7/12/2009
starting tomorrow, i'll be amongst the employed again. i have mixed emotions about this next phase...and bc i think in bullets...here goes...
what i will like about being employed again:
- a freak'n legitimate paycheck!
- not having to spend parts of my Sunday trying to log on to unemployment with the rest of the state of MA...getting timed out over and over.
- not having my inbox filled up with daily job alerts
- showers. i can't say enough about this one. daily showers will be glorious.
- a commute. i never thought i would want a commute, but having designated alone/quiet time will be nice after 8 months of going everywhere with two youngn's in the car...there won't be crying in the background, i won't be reaching for dropped toys, and i won't be counting red cars going by. reintroducing myself to the morning radio shows will also be nice.
- i'll enjoy not standing at the kitchen sink three+ times a day washing bibs/place-mats/sippy cups/high chair trays/etc. even w/ a dishwasher, i felt like i spent way too much time in the kitchen...hand washing stuff, loading the dishwasher, unloading the dishwasher, cooking meals...made me have a greater respect for the moms/dads that do this on a regular basis.
- i'm happy that the kids will now be going to preschool. both Aiden & Sadie are ready for preschool. Aiden definitely needs the interaction with other kids his age. Sadie is ridiculously social and loves to explore new things...so, she'll love the challenge. it's perfect timing for both of them.
- i guess i'm also looking forward to having adult conversations and adult work again...with the focus there being on 'i guess'.
what i will miss about the unemployed world:
- my kids. getting to experience this time w/ Aiden & Sadie was priceless and the timing couldn't have been better. how lucky was i to stay home with them while they were young...get to see Sadie crawl, walk, and talk for the first time, and to witness the two of them becoming friends and playing together...so lucky.
- staying up late bc i don't have to go to work in the morning.
- weekday groceries and errands. i got used to load'n the two young'ns up for our mid-week grocery run...adjoining only the other unemployed folk and the elderly who pull up to the grocery store on the nursing home buses (a whole world i didn't know existed). it was nice to have all the errands done during the week so that when the weekend came - there was nothan left to do but enjoy it. this also holds true for cleaning and laundry.
- my daily lunch call to jon where Aiden itemized what he was eating, what trains/cars/toys where watching him eat, and everything he'd done so far that day, all while Sadie was yell'n "da-da" at the phone.
- waking up in the morning only bc my kids have gotten up...not bc of an alarm clock.
what i learned:
- being laidoff was the best thing that could have happened to me. i needed to get out of the job i was in. i needed time to step back in my life. i needed time to re-prioritize. a couple of months wasn't enough. i wasn't able to fully start evaluating my direction and my priorities until i was unemployed for at least 4 months. again, i'm grateful...it was perfect timing and i wouldn't change a thing.
- i am now more ok with stillness. i no longer need to be in constant go-go-go mode, talk'n on my phone, etc.
- i've learned better how to say 'no' and make choices that favor myself and my crew, instead of trying to please everyone else.
- how to conserve...energy, money, food, etc. i got to use up my stockpile of crappy, old toiletries (shampoo/etc.). i started using reusable shopping bags. i now use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. i have always been good at cooking with leftovers, but i'm now an expert. i'm also one with coupons, sale flyers, and email promotional lists. who knew how much money one can save just by shopping and buying only when things are on sale. i needed to cut the fat out of our monthly expenses and i was able to do that...and it'll definitely save us lots of money by continuing that approach while employed. it's also nice to eliminate the part of me that tried to have the next best thing or keep up with the Jones'...such an unnecessary stress and a waste of time.
- i've tried a bunch of different kinds of good beer. one thing we didn't cut back on was beer. BUT, we did (and will continue to) buy only the beer that was on sale each week.
- Craig's List is awesome. i've successfully cleaned out my attic and basement...one person's junk is another's treasure!
- i gave up the gym membership, but found that Comcast OnDemand has all the free exercise programs i need. who knew i could do a couple pilates classes in my own living room for free? love it!
- i now have superior train track making skills. seriously, i'd challenge anyone to a track-off...see some photos i took below. :)
- we now have minimized everything, including tv. surprisingly, trying to watch every show, doing everything, go everywhere, etc....i didn't realize how much it was wearing me out. minimize and prioritize...whew, it's good to know how to breathe again.
- i've planted a garden, including fruit, herbs and veggies. my slowdown forced me to stop and smell those crops...nothing makes life more peaceful and puts things more in perspective than alone time with nature.
- i no longer identify myself by my job.
overall, i was unemployed for 8 months. i'm proud of myself for staying positive 99% of the time. i'm proud of myself for embracing the change. i'm proud of myself for refocusing and prioritizing. now, i need to, once again, embrace a new change and keep my perspective without getting sucked back into the nonsense. i have no false pretenses that the new job will be a dream job...i've altered my outlook and now realize, a job is about what you want to make of it and it's about the people you work with. so, wish me luck...actually, wish the peeps at the new job luck...they have no idea who they've hired...suckers.
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