Now or Never

Jobs, drugs and religion: why these people are calling it quits

When a situation is no longer serving you, there can be power in walking away and throwing in the towel.

There can be power in walking away and throwing in the towel

A woman holds up a hamburger, a young girl is in a ballet outfit and a young woman sits in front of a cup of coffee
Sandy Doyle, five-year-old Ify Chiwetelu, and Courtney Wright all knew when it was time to call it quits. (Erin Brohman/Ify Chiwetelu/Courtney Wright)

Quitting can sometimes get a bad reputation.

But there is a power in walking away from a situation that is no longer serving you — whether it's a job, an addiction, or a relationship.

On this episode of Now or Never, meet people who've recently called it quits on something meaningful in their life  — and the aftermath of making such a big decision.

  • For 16 years, Leah Gorham worked as a nurse in New Brunswick. Then, after she was attacked by a patient, she just couldn't do it anymore. She joins us from her big rig truck to talk about the joys of being a new trucker, and the guilt of leaving nursing. 
  • Kaitlin (last name withheld) returns home for Mother's Day weekend and sits down with her mom Sharon, to talk about her struggle to quit meth over the past seven years — and the toll it's taken on both of them.
  • After 31 years in business, Sandy Doyle was more than ready to shut down her restaurant Blondie's Burgers in Winnipeg. But is she ready to quit her "Blondie" persona, too?
  • "I am a quitter and I am proud of it!" For Courtney Wright, the journey to no longer identifying as a Christian has been long and painful. But today, she's finding the gifts in leaving it behind.  
  • And kids share words of encouragement to other kids thinking of quitting an activity.

Originally aired in May, 2022

If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance addiction, here's a link to resources across the country.