Monday marks my one month anniversary for being unemployed. Since I’ll be in LA that day I decided I would celebrate today. I’m not the biggest fan of cake, or sweets for that matter, so I’m treating myself to salt lick. Nothing like a good ole fashion salt lick on a Friday.
Since it is my one month anniversary I thought I’d give a bit of an update. A reflection on my one month of unemployment.
- Goals: I started my blog with laying out goals I wanted to achieve during my period of unemployment. I’ve done fairly well on some and other things I need to work back into my routine. I’ve been blogging regularly, yay! I’ve also been practicing my french. C’est bonne, Rachelle! My mad PHP skills see no match. That’s mostly because I’m still under 50 pages into my book. I’ll get better though and then my mad skills will really set the Internet on fire like Mrs O’Leary’s cow.
Things to work on: I need to run more. I started off running and then day-by-day found myself less motivated. Not really appropriate. I’ll work on that. I also will remove learning piano from my list. I never considered the fact that I don’t own a piano. A girl can dream though, right?
- Job Search: I’ve had some great successes with getting interviews and networking. I am forever in debt to my friends and colleagues who have been steady sources of support and shared their network with me. I’m still looking for that video game, new media, Web start-up and interactive entertainment job that fits me and I fit it. I’m in the right place and I have the time.
- Positive: It feels like old news to me, the whole unemployed situation, but daily I have friends ask me how my job is and are honestly surprised when I tell them I was laid off. I remain positive for me. I don’t see any avenue where negativity would be appropriate. Life happens and I choose not to blame others for my situation. Plus, student loan deferment? Thank you!
- Unemployment Benefits: I finally got my form filled out and I’ll be receiving the maximum amount of money. It will pay rent. My cats are ecstatic. They forgave me for being unemployed. They realized they still get feed.
- Money: I’m back to saving money again. But I did fall hard off the money wagon. Let’s hope I can stay on the straight and narrow.
- Cereal: I haven’t had to eat it yet. That is a major success. I’ve conditioned myself to like mushrooms and use the word soda over pop. Cereal will bow down to me when the time comes.
I remember the night I was laid off and thinking of where I’d be in four weeks. I’m happy to still be as positive, good-natured, and excited about life as I was before. I know it’s ridiculous to think of unemployment like that, but when I realize the amount of value I placed on myself in reference to my job, it was frightening. My whole worth was tied to my work and it was putting an unhealthy amount of stress and pressure on my life. Try to go out one night and not talk about work, or your job, and see what’s left. It’s something I am happy to have gained during this month– a real self-worth.
I’ll be back on Tuesday!
