I wrote about the day I decided to take a leap of faith to quit for a sabbatical. It was still two months down the road after I made that decision that I actually left the office. I had a three months notice back then. (Yes, three months. No, they didn’t think it was crazy).

It doesn’t feel like a year ago that I walked out of that office.

The perfect farewell gift from my team.

I promised myself that when the time comes for the anniversary of it, I will post my farewell email sent to my colleagues on this blog.  For memory sake.  I tried drafting one in the days leading up to my last day, but for someone with a three months notice period, I was still busy right up till the end.  So I ended up drafting this towards the end of the day, plus I didn’t really know what to say without it sounding like a boring farewell note.

And so, here it is.

(Some details and identity have been removed for privacy reason).

*****

From: Me

To: Selected people in the office

Subject: Thank You & Farewell

Date: July 6, 2011 7:29:21 PM GMT+07:00

For someone who is considered a chatter box, and often verbose when writing, I am a little stuck for words as to what to write on my farewell note. Unfortunately, I have deleted past colleagues’ farewell notes from my in-box, so I can’t exactly do the copy and paste. Plus, that’s plagiarism.

So let’s try and see what I can come up with in the next few paragraphs.

This is definitely not going to be one of those sappy sad notes. Why should it be anyway? I have had a fantastic 5.5 years with the bank. (Yes, you read that right. “Fantastic”), and that is a reason to celebrate. One might think, what an irony given the circumstances of this note. Why leave if it’s fantastic?.

To that I’d say, the only constant thing in life is change.  I am making one for choosing a different path, one that would start the moment I walk out that door this evening from this building.  After all, every one of us is destined for some purpose in life, be it here, or in a different organization, or for some people, some remote mangrove forest in the middle of nowhere.

Wait, I did say no sappy bit. None so far right?

I did have a fantastic 5.5 years here.  The ups and downs, challenges thrown at me, and the celebrations of successes, that all pretty much shaped me as the person that I am today – and one hopes it’s a better version of me than 5.5 years ago walking into MMU (Ed. our office building) as an RMT (Ed. Resident Management Trainee), coincidently as the first day of the bank starting its office here. (Yes, Monday, 16 January 2006).

The journey was mostly worthwhile because of the people I have met, and I kid you not when I say “People” is what makes this office one of the best places to work. I have truly made some of the best friendships here in this bank.

So for that, I thank each and every one of you for being a part of my journey here.

Thank you for your support during my time here and also for some of you, sharing some of the best life lessons. Thank you for putting up with my often opinionated self and sharp tongue.

I do apologize sincerely if I have offended you in any way in the past (yes, mostly for being strongly opinionated) but in any case, none them was ever intentional.

I’m never good with good-byes, so I’m sorry if I didn’t see you personally to say farewell.  But if you feel the need to keep in touch or even reply to this email (for I will unlikely receive your reply here)  my personal email is listed below.

I’ll sign off now by wishing you all the very best in life, and again, thank you for everything.

Regards,

-Me-

PS: So much for being stuck for words – this note has over 500 words. I told you I am verbose.

Positivity, Passion, Courage are contagious. Don’t ever lose them once you find  them.

*****

My farewell card as picked by one of my staff. I love the quote.                                                                                                          ”All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney

And again, I still can’t believe it has been one year. What a year of adventure it has been.