Some words are heav y with negative vibes. Ta ke ‘quit’. A pithy verb that, for ma ny, is a synonym for failure, suggestive of a lack of stamina, t a lent or resilience. Even the phrase ‘Quit while you’re ahead ’ hints at an element of good fortune that’s about to run out. But maybe quitting gets a bad press. Maybe it’s misunderstood. Maybe the reasons why people choose to quit are overlooked or, occasiona lly, ig nored.
Few make the decision to leave behind a job, partner, friend or even pastime without ser ious thought. That goes for people of all abilities no matter where they stand on the ladder of perceived success or how much time and effortthey’ve invested in a relationship or project. T here are of ten conflicting emotions – adesire to try to achieve more, for example, might co-exist with the recognition that a much-loved project would benefit from someone else’s fresh ideas. Excitement about doors to open might mingle with sadness at the one actively being closed.