From Fear To A Force
By Tina Green
Tina Green is the founder of Words With Conviction, a non-profit based in Dallas.
In the middle of maternity leave with my second child, I quit my job. I had assumed I would return after my allotted 12 weeks, but like so many women, my career went on pause as a result of issues with childcare access and affordability, as well as perinatal depression due to a difficult pregnancy and the diagnosis of my daughter’s genetic condition.
At first, the transition caused a lot of inner turmoil; I felt tremendous guilt for abandoning my co-workers. I was envious of my husband’s successes and impact on others. I questioned if this choice would impact my career forever. I’m also ashamed that I felt embarrassed in the beginning to say I was a stay-at-home mom (SAHM), as if that made me less intelligent, capable or independent.
I have been a SAHM for almost a year now, and I have since reframed these thoughts and have completely embraced this chapter of life with immense gratitude and recognition of the privilege I have been given.
But something completely unexpected happened in this last year: I started to create the life that I’ve always wanted.
I have been able to tap into my creativity once again, something I rarely had time for before. I have had the time to think about what I truly want and the legacy I want to leave. These reflections have led to the creation of my own organization, Words With Conviction, an advocacy training program for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. I want to ensure that their stories are heard and that they have the tools to make waves.
Tina Green and her family.
Quitting my job was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made; not only do I get this time with my family, I am creating something I believe in and on my terms.
Tina Green is the founder of Words With Conviction, a non-profit advocacy training program for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated.
@tinagreen917; https://www.facebook.com/tina.brunson.35; https://www.instagram.com/tinamariegreen/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-green-55029914
““Quitting my job was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made; not only do I get this time with my family, I am creating something I believe in and on my terms.”—@Tinagreen917, founder of Words With Conviction. #PowertoChangeStories”