After years of enduring a toxic workplace filled with unreasonable deadlines, micromanaging bosses, and colleagues who thrived on gossip, Potato finally did it—Potato quit. The decision wasn’t easy; it never is when you’ve been stuck in one place for so long, even if that place made you miserable. But one day, something snapped after yet another draining meeting where Potato’s ideas were dismissed and credit for hard work was handed to someone else. Potato walked out, turned off work notifications, and never looked back.
Now, standing in front of the sleek glass doors of a new office, Potato felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The building was bright and welcoming, starkly contrasting to the dull, grey cubicles of the past. Taking a deep breath, Potato stepped inside.
The first day was a whirlwind of introductions, handshakes, and friendly smiles. The manager, a warm and approachable person named Onion, greeted Potato personally.
“We’re so happy to have you here,” Onion said. “Take your time settling in. No rush.”
No rush? That was new. Potato had been conditioned to believe that every second not spent working was a second wasted. But here, people took breaks, chatted in a relaxed manner, and—most shockingly—left work on time.
As days turned into weeks, Potato started unlearning the toxic habits ingrained in the previous workplace. It wasn’t easy. The first time Potato finished a task ahead of schedule, there was a brief panic—where was the next urgent thing? Why wasn’t anyone hovering, demanding immediate results? Instead, Onion simply said, “Great work! Let’s discuss the next step tomorrow.” Tomorrow. Not now.
Colleagues collaborated rather than competed, and feedback was constructive rather than cutting. Slowly, Potato’s tension melted away. The workplace that once felt like a battlefield now felt like a team effort.
One evening, as Potato packed up to leave on time (on time!), a realization struck: this is what work should feel like. Not dread, not exhaustion—just a balanced part of life.
As Potato walked out the doors, there was no lingering anxiety, no weight dragging behind. Just a lightness, a hope. A fresh start.
And this time, it felt right.
