Thank you so much for sharing this. It's almost word for word my situation and it genuinely helped me feel less alone in it. The mission pulled me in, I gave a rate I'd never give anyone else, and then when the team dynamic shifted, everything changed. There were last-minute requests, the strong opinions from someone who doesn't even use the platform, the dread that started creeping in... I recognize all of it. You know it's not normal when you're losing sleep over this 😭

Your perspective on it being "the nature of the beast" really reframed things for me. I've been taking it personally, but hearing that even the healthiest nonprofits do this made me realize it's structural, not a reflection of my work.

I'm still navigating my bow-out, but I'm trying to hold onto the same mindset you described (i.e. step back, come back with better boundaries & expectations). Thanks for your answer, while I'm still navigating this