I realized this weekend that during my foray back into the land of unemployment that I had overlooked, neglected mind you, a very important hero. She was a staple for my slumber parties, provided me a new wave of female empowerment and offered me endless one-liners — some of which I still use to this day. Who knew I wasn’t alone in my desire to grow up, move to Europe and marry Christian Slater? That’s right, Buffy.
Not only was she a vampire slayer but she was also a cheerleader and popular to boot. Buffy taught me many skills in life, like how to catch a knife when it’s thrown at my head and a good roundhouse kick. Most importantly she taught me how to deal with the unexpected. It’s not every day that a creepy man follows you into the locker room and tells you that you are from a long line of vampire killers. Much like unemployment, you don’t wake up that morning expecting your life to completely change. Unfortunately for you, your news does not come from Donald Sutherland and you do not get to attend your unemployment prom with Luke Perry.
What you can do is be okay with the changes that happen in life. It is the unexpected situations that creep up and surprise us and encourage us to be innovative. That’s not to say that I’m sitting back, crying and eating peanut butter of a jar. Ok, that was a slight lie. I still love eating peanut butter of the jar, but I’m not sitting back and I’m not crying about my second foray into the land of unemployement. Buffy taught me that when we are handed things in life that we may not have ever contemplated — or even wanted — that the most you owe yourself is giving it a try. Especially when you ask yourself — what’s the worst thing that can happen? Failing shouldn’t be a reason for giving it a try.
To be honest, I’ve had to re-define my definition of what it meant for me to be a failure and what it means for me to be successful. It’s no longer about a title, or a position but about how I deal with the unexpected and the situations I am put in. Granted, there are moments of success and failure that come with job titles and duties. I am not one to ignore those and not appreciate the value they have.
I am not sure what I’ll do next. I know I’m open to opportunities and searching for the greater meaning of what will make me happy now. What can I say? I’m just looking for my balance and I’ll try not to break a nail.
