My job has been threatening to come to a screeching halt for some time. I did not know exactly when, but at some point, the little company I worked for would eventually be transitioned to an office in another state. My husband and I are well rooted here in AZ, so the company would have to go on without me.
As I saw things winding down, I had been putting out resumes and networking to help provide some insurance from impending joblessness.
Working frantically to try to wrap things up to help transition operations to another office and work myself out of my job, I dreamed of the coming days when I would not have to work. The days when I would have a break from reality and could wile away the time sipping iced tea by our community pool, working to tan the white pale skin that only comes with working in an office nearly all daylight hours.
Things were looking promising. One company told me they would offer me a job as soon as they obtained approval for creating a new position. On my last day, as I shut down my computer for the last time and gathered my belongings, my sentimental regrets of saying goodbye were infused with optimism about the future.
Hello vacation!!! Whole days off .. no long drive, no constant pressures – a Monday without going to work! All this lay before me. The things I never had time for – unpacking, cleaning! I could go over to the gym and start getting in better physical shape! Try new recipes! Blog, do needlework, get to know my neighbors! Spend more time growing spiritually.
My first free Monday came. We had a busy weekend, and I was a little tired. After my husband was off to work (poor thing) I eased into my morning with the freedom of the retired. I got a little done, but celebrated my afternoon off with a 2 hour nap, after which I had some ice cream. I then topped off my day with a movie after which I rushed into the shower and got dressed just nearly when Andy came home at 9 pm. (He asked me, at this hour, what is the point? But I explained that I was now more pleasant to be around now in the waning minutes of the day and our time together). I felt a little regretful that I had not made it to the gym or had done more productive things, but decided my first day off it was ok.
Tuesday came. Time to get busy! I spent some time reading the Bible and a book, after which I ambitiously mapped out my to-do list for the day. I tackled our bathroom, cleaning the shower and tub until they sparkled. I am not fond of cleaning, but I love the results. Things were going productively, but as I went about my day, an unfamiliar feeling began to creep up on me, very subtly, but surely, until I was downright in a bad mood. I realized I was lonely! Lonely to the point that I turned on talk radio and started listening to Glenn Beck For the most part I loathe talk radio, but he was a person, and he was talking to me.
Once again, I made some progress that day, but didn’t make it to the pool, or to the gym, or blog, or get to several other things on my to-do list.
And now it is Wednesday, the day I am writing this. The house could not contain me. I needed some contact with humanity. So now as I write this, I am on my laptop in my mother’s living room, typing while she paints. Just having her around has given me the inspiration I finally need to write.
This time off has made me realize I do not get inspired in a vacuum. Time alone is great, but not hours on end. And I don’t really like going to the community pool by myself. I am impulsively checking my email to see if anyone responded to a resume I sent out, or if the one company has an update on the new position. I saw one neighbor from a distance one day as I drove past in my car, but her back was turned so I didn't wave. The machines at the gym have not been graced by my presence.
And so, I am finding unemployment to be a classic case of expectations versus reality. It is an opportunity to break out of my comfort zone; to do things that my busy schedule allowed me to nobly procrastinate and delay. Now there is no excuse. Before me lays another week to broach those comfort zone borders. And until that phone call with the job offer comes, there is still time to work on my tan.
As I saw things winding down, I had been putting out resumes and networking to help provide some insurance from impending joblessness.
Working frantically to try to wrap things up to help transition operations to another office and work myself out of my job, I dreamed of the coming days when I would not have to work. The days when I would have a break from reality and could wile away the time sipping iced tea by our community pool, working to tan the white pale skin that only comes with working in an office nearly all daylight hours.
Things were looking promising. One company told me they would offer me a job as soon as they obtained approval for creating a new position. On my last day, as I shut down my computer for the last time and gathered my belongings, my sentimental regrets of saying goodbye were infused with optimism about the future.
Hello vacation!!! Whole days off .. no long drive, no constant pressures – a Monday without going to work! All this lay before me. The things I never had time for – unpacking, cleaning! I could go over to the gym and start getting in better physical shape! Try new recipes! Blog, do needlework, get to know my neighbors! Spend more time growing spiritually.
My first free Monday came. We had a busy weekend, and I was a little tired. After my husband was off to work (poor thing) I eased into my morning with the freedom of the retired. I got a little done, but celebrated my afternoon off with a 2 hour nap, after which I had some ice cream. I then topped off my day with a movie after which I rushed into the shower and got dressed just nearly when Andy came home at 9 pm. (He asked me, at this hour, what is the point? But I explained that I was now more pleasant to be around now in the waning minutes of the day and our time together). I felt a little regretful that I had not made it to the gym or had done more productive things, but decided my first day off it was ok.
Tuesday came. Time to get busy! I spent some time reading the Bible and a book, after which I ambitiously mapped out my to-do list for the day. I tackled our bathroom, cleaning the shower and tub until they sparkled. I am not fond of cleaning, but I love the results. Things were going productively, but as I went about my day, an unfamiliar feeling began to creep up on me, very subtly, but surely, until I was downright in a bad mood. I realized I was lonely! Lonely to the point that I turned on talk radio and started listening to Glenn Beck For the most part I loathe talk radio, but he was a person, and he was talking to me.
Once again, I made some progress that day, but didn’t make it to the pool, or to the gym, or blog, or get to several other things on my to-do list.
And now it is Wednesday, the day I am writing this. The house could not contain me. I needed some contact with humanity. So now as I write this, I am on my laptop in my mother’s living room, typing while she paints. Just having her around has given me the inspiration I finally need to write.
This time off has made me realize I do not get inspired in a vacuum. Time alone is great, but not hours on end. And I don’t really like going to the community pool by myself. I am impulsively checking my email to see if anyone responded to a resume I sent out, or if the one company has an update on the new position. I saw one neighbor from a distance one day as I drove past in my car, but her back was turned so I didn't wave. The machines at the gym have not been graced by my presence.
And so, I am finding unemployment to be a classic case of expectations versus reality. It is an opportunity to break out of my comfort zone; to do things that my busy schedule allowed me to nobly procrastinate and delay. Now there is no excuse. Before me lays another week to broach those comfort zone borders. And until that phone call with the job offer comes, there is still time to work on my tan.
