“By opening up my energy to the Universe, I am sure a new opportunity will come soon. I feel like I am in a period of transitions.”
— Gresson Peiffer
Life is often riddled with challenges that test how we balance certain aspects of it—like a scale that constantly tips over, waiting to be adjusted. In Gresson Peiffer’s Sharing My Light, she shares how she navigated this imbalance by achieving a sense of harmony in her life. She became at peace with her true, authentic self through trusting her intuition and reconnecting with her inner child. One of the many thought-provoking experiences I related to most was her internal conflict with her job, which mirrors my own transition into adulthood.
When I graduated, I was immediately disillusioned by my expectations of being an adult and how unrealistic my goals were. While I did have more time to rest and be with myself, the haunting sight of job applications soon visited my every waking thought. I realized how lost I truly was—and that realization stressed me out even more. I stayed on the sidelines, watching my life as a student fade away while everyone else seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do.
I often felt frustrated, comparing my experiences to theirs, like they had discovered some secret to adjusting so easily. But we’re all still learning how to walk on our own, and we should give ourselves the grace to do so. After months of crippling anxiety, I was eventually offered a cashier job at a retail store.
I initially wanted to decline the offer, but my overwhelming dread of being jobless forever pushed me to accept it. I told myself it was a temporary opportunity to grow and learn—but I never expected it to turn out the way it did.
I was constantly burnt out from the added workload that went beyond the responsibilities of a cashier. My questionable colleagues and the exhausting commute didn’t help either. As a result, I couldn’t work on my creative projects anymore. It felt as though I had sacrificed that creative part of myself just to have a job, which went against the very criteria I had set for one. It wasn’t worth the time or effort, yet I still persisted, viewing it as nothing more than a learning experience.
Months passed, and I had a realization that began to haunt me: I could be doing so much more than this. Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t meant to disregard a cashier’s job. In fact, I’ve gained so much respect and perspective for them now that I know what it’s like. But it just didn’t click for me. Spending hours in that bookstore began to fill me with dread—like being trapped in sinking mud, struggling to move forward.
Thankfully, some kindred hearts pulled me out of that pit. I made great friends who helped me endure those long days. Without them, I would have continued sinking. We had each other’s backs, and they were the only reason I stayed long enough to finish my probationary period. I wanted to get to know them better—to become a genuine friend.
This was a similar experience to what Peiffer wrote in her book. She felt grateful for trusting her intuition about Helan and opening up to them. Helan was there when she needed someone to talk to, especially when she was doubting her decision to resign. Eventually, Peiffer chose to leave but remained hesitant, fearing that doing so would sever her connection with Helan. However, she came to realize that some connections stay with us for a lifetime—and even if they fade, the memories continue to echo through our hearts and minds.
And it’s true. Those friends became like family to me—like a brother, an uncle, and even a grandfather. We still stay in touch, even after we all left that bookstore.
It’s been a couple of months now, and I don’t regret resigning from a job that clearly didn’t resonate with me—something Peiffer also came to realize when she wrote:
“It’s time for me to release my ‘old self’ and everything that doesn’t resonate
with it anymore, which includes my job as well. I am feeling ready for a rebirth.”
Adulthood and our first job experiences come with uncertainty. While it may feel like leaving behind a life we’ve known for years, it can also mark the beginning of a rebirth. It was difficult to let go of my old self and face rejected applications, but I never stopped believing that there was a more fulfilling job out there—one that values my creativity and aligns with my passions. I’ve opened myself up to the Universe once more, and I’m glad to say that I’ve found work that meets my personal criteria without compromising who I am.
Staying in a job that constantly disrespects and undervalues us is not a sign of self-love. If we don’t break that cycle now, Peiffer reminds us, it will only continue—and none of us want that. It would be like stepping into that same mud pit all over again, never learning or growing. That’s why it’s so important to trust our intuition.
Peiffer’s experience serves as a guide for navigating the adult world, whether you’re just entering it or have been here for years. While it may be scary to let your student life fade away and face transitions, we should remain open and optimistic. We must learn to let go of the things that hinder our growth and open ourselves to new opportunities that will shape us into the best versions of ourselves—ones we can respect and truly love.
by Tiffany Melo