New Direction

After 6 months of unemployment, I started a new job yesterday. It's only a part-time job an pays only a fraction of what I've been used to making for the last decade, but I've never been happier.

I really didn't write much of my unemployment this time around and I'm not sure why, but I suspicion it had to do more with my outlook than anything. Simply put, I wasn't scared, unhappy, depressed or any of the things one would think came part and parcel with the territory. I really feel it was the best way for me to discern the path I need to take; the new direction.

One of the things which really concerned me during my lean months was the type and quality of foods available [read: affordable] while on a very limited budget. I know I'm guilty of having looked into other carts at the grocery store and thinking, "you wouldn't be overweight if you didn't fill your basket with crap". However, I've changed my opinion. I'm sure there are some who eat junk no matter what their income, but the sad reality is most can't afford the healthy things such as fresh produce and whole grain breads.

Even going to a fast food establishment one sees the same trend. A double cheeseburger is available for $1.00 but a salad (made from iceberg lettuce at that) is $5.00! It doesn't take an advanced mathematician to figure out which economic class is eating the double cheeseburger. And I'm not even going to start on how the very class who either doesn't have health insurance or can't afford it are those most likely to need it once their arteries are caked with plaque because they had to survive by eating meals picked from the dollar menus!

But, I digress.

I've had six months to witness firsthand the challenges faced by countless Americans each day. During those times I was thankful to know my situation was temporary, but my heart was so convicted about how much actual wealth I had squandered over the years. So, I'm switching gears and my life has a new direction. Even this blog has taken a new direction during the last half year and I appreciate those who have stuck with me as I discover the new path. [and, if you miss the fluffier reading, feel free to check out my other blog As Seen in the 405!]

Trying to tie this up and connect the dots, I resisted taking a job which was only part-time. This particular job was dangled in front of me almost 2 months before I acted on it. But, now I feel it's absolutely where I needed to be, for lots of reasons. I really want to do something to make my community a better place. I know I don't have much to give monetarily, but my heart and my drive is full and ready to give, so I'm exploring ways to start some sort of community garden which will, hopefully, make fresh produce affordable to those who need it most. Working part time is going to give me that opportunity and I couldn't be happier about it.

Watch for more info about the community garden as I learn and work through the process. I can't change the world, but I'm going to do my damnedest to make a difference where I live!

A New Sun Rising

I am unemployed again.



But that's not a bad thing.



But I don't want to write about that, really. I want to focus on the opportunities ahead of me! I've been blogging for 3 years now, and in that time, there are some common themes that pop up fairly regularly. One of them is my eternal optimism. I don't know if I was born with it, or if it was something my parents instilled in me, or both. But whatever the reason, I'm so grateful it comes easy for me......especially in times such as this.



So, now that I'm loosed from the bonds of a job I hated, I am faced with endless possibilities. I've had a yen lately to sell almost everything I own and travel......what's to keep me from doing that now? I'm not quite sure I'm ready to do that yet, but it would be much easier to do now than it would have a month or even a year ago!



I've said it many times before and I'll probably say it many times in the years to come: It doesn't matter how bad life gets......because even on my worst day, I'm so glad to be alive. NO ONE is guaranteed a tomorrow so I want to live everyday in the moment. And, hopefully, when I come to end of my journey, I'll have no regrets about how I lived my life.



I've known many pessimists in my life and it always makes me want to try and reason with them......don't they understand? By constantly complaining about circumstances, they're wasting the time they have to go out and change those things.....time for living life to the fullest!



So, I look forward to the future! No day but today!

Sage Advice

The job hunt is going very slowly and my severance will stop on the 15th of this month. I started the paperwork for unemployment benefits, but I found out today that the corporate office is going to protest it and try to deny me.........I have the ammunition to fight, but I'd rather just find a job and not have to deal with it.

I'm trying very hard not to be stressed, but I'm starting to feel the panic rise. So, my very wise and constant IM friend mentioned that I might look at some of the job leads I've gotten for sales and I shut him down immediately. True sales people are horrible to work for and with. I asked my friend if he thought I was being stubborn and he gave me some very good advice. He said he thought I should look into a sales job as an interim possibility.....to get some income flowing.....and then continue my job search from there. I still don't want to work in sales, but I also don't want to be homeless and I don't know how long it will take to resolve the disputed unemployment claim.

If I thought I could bring in enough money right now just sewing and designing, I'd go ahead with that, but I don't like the unknown and there are too many unknowns involved with that.....the main one being, "How much money will I make?" I need to know my bills will be covered. End of story.

I'm off to apply for more jobs!

Day Two of Unemployment

It's not even noon on my second day of unemployment and I'm already stir crazy! It's amazing how just knowing I have no job to go to makes me feel so strange. I really feel like I need to take a bit of time to get some things in order before I start to search in earnest for a new job, but given my mood today, I don't know if I'll make it to Friday without putting myself out there for a couple of things.

I've spent most of my morning looking into some places to list some of my clothing designs for sale......I just need to get some pieces made to list and that will be a way to bring in extra income that will hopefully continue even after I have found a "real" job.

A friend of mine has offered to build a website for me and my designs which will also help in the long run......but nothing is happening today and that's what's making me crazy.

I work best when I know there's a plan but at the moment, my plans are sketchy, at best. I have a vague idea of my timeline for the next six weeks, but without knowing when and where I'll be working, I feel like I'm just tumbling along.

Well......I feel like I haven't said much of anything, but I needed to get these things off my chest and out into the blogosphere.