Man, thinking back to 2021, it was such a whirlwind. I remember seeing that title, “Your 2021 Pisces Career Horoscope: Big Changes are Coming!” floating around online. Honestly, I’d usually just scroll past that stuff, you know? But being a Pisces myself, there was this tiny part of me that thought, “Huh, wonder what they mean by big changes.” Little did I know, the universe was really setting the stage for some serious upheaval in my work life.
I kicked off 2021 feeling really restless at my old gig. I’d been doing the same thing for years, just trudging through the motions. Every morning felt like hitting a wall before I even got out of bed. I’d drag myself to my desk, stare at the screen, and just feel this heavy sigh welling up. It wasn’t bad, exactly, but it just wasn’t it anymore. The passion had totally evaporated. I started looking at job boards, but it felt more like a chore than a real search, just a way to confirm that nothing out there really excited me either. I felt stuck, like really, really stuck.
The First Domino Fell
Then, around March, things started to shift. Not in a big, dramatic way, but in whispers. I saw a former colleague post about a new project they were working on, something totally different from our old industry. It got me thinking. I reached out, just to catch up, really. We had a long chat, and he was just buzzing with excitement about this new tech and the different work culture. He wasn’t even recruiting me, just sharing his journey, but it planted a seed. That night, I actually found myself researching that new field, something I hadn’t done earnestly in ages.
I started noticing how much I grumbled about my job, even to my dog. It wasn’t fair to him. So I decided I needed to get serious. I committed to spending at least an hour every evening learning something new or looking for genuinely interesting opportunities. It wasn’t easy. Some nights I just wanted to crash on the couch with a terrible TV show. But I pushed through. I tried out a couple of online courses, messed around with some new software, even started drafting a fresh resume that highlighted skills I actually enjoyed using, not just the ones for my current job.
One evening, I stumbled upon a small online community of folks working in this niche area my old colleague had mentioned. I joined, mostly just lurking at first. I read their discussions, saw the problems they were solving, and it felt… different. Like a puzzle I actually wanted to figure out. After a few weeks of just soaking it all in, I finally worked up the nerve to ask a question. Just a simple one, about a basic tool. And folks were surprisingly helpful. That small interaction, getting a couple of genuine answers, it gave me a real boost.
Taking the Leap
Around summer, a friend sent me a job posting. It was for a company she knew, in that new field I’d been sniffing around. The description wasn’t a perfect fit, but it had enough overlap that I thought, “Why not?” I spent a whole weekend polishing my application, tailoring my resume, and writing a cover letter that actually expressed some excitement, which felt wild. I got an interview. Then another. And another.
Each interview was a learning experience. I had to talk about things I was still new to, show enthusiasm for areas I was just dipping my toes into. There were definitely moments where I fumbled, where I knew I wasn’t giving a perfect answer. But I also felt this honest desire to learn and contribute. I remember one interviewer asking about a specific skill, and I just flat out said, “I haven’t used that professionally yet, but I’ve been practicing it every day for the last month, and here’s how I approached this small project with it.” It felt risky, but also real.
Then, in late August, the offer came in. It was a huge moment. This new role was a pretty big jump. Different industry, different kind of tech, even a different company culture. My old job had become a comfort zone, albeit a stifling one. Leaving it felt like stepping off a cliff. My gut was twisted in knots. I talked it over with my partner, called my family. Everyone had their own opinions, mostly “Are you sure?” and “That sounds scary.” But deep down, I knew I had to do it. The thought of staying where I was felt even scarier.
So, I gave my notice. That was a day. Walking into my old boss’s office and telling him I was leaving was tough. It was sad to say goodbye to some good people, but there was also this massive feeling of relief washing over me. Like a heavy weight finally lifted. I spent the next couple of weeks wrapping things up, transferring knowledge, and saying my goodbyes.
New Beginnings and Reflection
Starting the new job in September felt like being a freshman all over again. New systems, new faces, new everything. I remember feeling completely overwhelmed the first few weeks. There was so much to learn, so many unspoken rules, so much jargon that was totally new to me. I doubted myself pretty hard during that time. “Did I make a mistake? Am I capable of this?” Those questions rattled around in my head daily.
But I kept pushing. I took copious notes, asked a ton of “dumb” questions, stayed late to read documentation, and just tried to absorb everything like a sponge. I started finding my feet. I connected with a few kind souls who were willing to show me the ropes and patiently answer my repetitive questions. Slowly, bit by bit, the pieces started clicking into place. I started contributing, even if it was just small things at first, and those small wins felt huge.
By the end of 2021, I could look back and honestly say those “big changes” the horoscope talked about? They totally happened. I went from feeling completely stagnant and uninspired to jumping into something brand new, challenging myself daily, and actually feeling excited about my work again. It was a scary, messy, unpredictable journey, but absolutely worth it. It taught me that sometimes, you just gotta trust that little voice, and be brave enough to take that leap, even if you’re not 100% sure where you’ll land.
