I was laid off from my job this week. I am now a statistic in the US economic recovery and health care debate. It's a bit ignominious but, hey, I'm in pretty good company (highest unemployment since 1986!) so there is some solace in that.
Frankly, I feel pretty good. Actually excited, to be honest. I'm not sure if this is some sort of shock reaction and the true fear will set in on Monday when I've no 9-to-5 to report to? Today, at least, I like to think that this feeling is my true setting. I was very frustrated in my job. It was meant to be a "bridge" position to my next dream job so, consequently, I didn't have the same expectations from it that I would otherwise. And I think the fact that it failed to meet even my lowered expectations only compounded the frustration. I was so empty and spent after a workday that it was hard to concentrate, in the evenings, on finding that next step. My pendulum swings between abject panic and laissez-faire attitude that my next step will make itself apparent to me. There is no soul-searching technique that I won't entertain. I've been test, counseled, aptitude-profiled, and mentored. I have a solid definition of the optimal environment, but am still narrowing down the field of work.
What I am most confident in, however, is that this is a good thing. My family was well-prepared for this turn of events - hey, with highest unemployment rate and worst recession in my lifetime, you're just foolish if you haven't laid in provisions. Of the people I worked with, I am most well-equipped (both financially and emotionally) to rebound from this new challenge. Of my extended family, I have the fewest obligations and greatest flexibility. From that perspective, I'm glad it was me who was chosen.
This is going to be a roller-coaster ride and I'll try to chronicle some of the experience here. By itemizing the ups and downs, I can recalibrate on the mean when I need to.
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