I'm 60 hours into being "unemployed" as I write this.

What's the biggest thing I've noticed so far?

The quiet that comes from being disconnected from Slack.

Slack is a background cacophony, a constant reminder that there are things happening all around you in your organization.

At its best, it's the kind of hustle and bustle background sound of a thriving city.

A kind of pleasant sound of things happening.

But more often, it's just the mosquito buzz of the urgent, never leaving your ear, making you anxious at all times, telling you to stop thinking about the important, and to focus only on the urgent.

In large organizations, this can become a background roar.

The other thing I've noticed: for all of the crap LinkedIn gets as a "social network", the professional positivity when you announce a big life change really does feel great.

I feel like I'm at the beginning of my hero journey (before we know if I'll be a hero or die trying), setting off into the intimidating forest.

Everyone I've ever interacted with back in the village is cheering me on, buoying my spirits as I tackle something terrifying and novel.

Seeing all of the faces of people I've interacted with over the years and knowing they're cheering me on… that feels great.