The Date That Brought It All Back: 17 Years Since My First Job

I quit my corporate job in November 2020.

A few days later, I opened LinkedIn to update my work status (which didn’t go through, oddly enough), and then, I didn’t log in again for two whole years. Life got in the way. A lot happened. Most of it was unplanned, and much of it was heartbreaking.

After completing a content writing course, I finally logged back in. I made a small promise to myself to be more active, not every day, but maybe once a month. Once every two months, realistically.

Every time I come back to this professional space, I see friends and former colleagues doing amazing things:
✔️ Promotions
✔️ New job titles
✔️ Certifications
✔️ Startups
✔️ Inspiring career journeys

I genuinely feel proud and happy for them.

Today was no different—until a date popped into my head: 23rd May.

It nagged me.
Was it someone’s birthday?
A forgotten payment?
An anniversary?

I couldn’t figure it out… until it hit me. 23rd May 2008 was the day I started my very first job.

Seventeen years ago, I was that nervous young woman weaving through the crowd at Vashi station in Mumbai, heading to her first day at work. The office was literally above the train station, on the first floor. The ground floor was bustling with daily commuters, and I was floating between excitement and fear.

And now, in 2025, here I am – running after my kids, managing a home, and often wondering if I’m doing anything “worthwhile.”

No new job title.
No salary credit message.
No LinkedIn update to share.

But maybe that’s okay.

Maybe it’s just that ‘grass is greener syndrome.’ Just as I wrote this, I looked up my friend Google, and yes, it actually is a syndrome. And that means that I’m not the only one who feels it.

Maybe if I had a deep conversation with those friends I admire so much, they’d tell me they miss the slower pace, the time with family, the chance to step back and reflect. Maybe their own success came at a cost I don’t see.

Maybe I should stop comparing my current chapter with someone else’s highlight reel.

My 13 years in the corporate world weren’t wasted—they shaped me. Taught me. Gave me stories, skills, and strength. I can still use what I’ve learned. I can still grow, even if the path looks different now.

So should I chase achievements just because others are?
Should I feel left behind?

I don’t think so.

That mindset is what leads many of us to burnout and regret. It blinds us to the unique journey we’re on.

I may not be climbing a career ladder right now, but I’m building something else: patience, perspective, and purpose.

That’s not nothing. That’s something.

If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. Sometimes, all it takes is a date, like 23rd May, to spark a flood of memories and emotions. In my case, it reminded me of how far I’ve come, even when it feels like I’m standing still.

To my friends reaching amazing milestones: I’m so proud of you.
To those quietly navigating life’s turns, like me: I see you.

Let’s stop comparing and start appreciating.

Let the grass be green everywhere.

🌱 Be at peace with yourself.

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Photo courtesy: Photo by Ochir-Erdene Oyunmedeg on Unsplash

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