Besides blogging, what have I been up to since being unemployed?
Really great question, so let's go back to the beginning!
I was not happy at my last job. I could probably write forever about that place, but I won't. Suffice it to say that I was under appreciated and made to feel like I was a moron. (I am not a moron by the way. At the risk of sounding conceited, I am very intelligent and creative and a DAMN hard worker!) Anyway, I was staying because I was taught that life isn't perfect and you have to work hard to get what you want. You have to make sacrifices and do things you don't always like, pay your dues and climb the ladder. The money and insurance were great, so I sucked it up and gave 110% every day. But I wasn't happy and I was losing myself.
I was laid off around Christmas time. I was given advance notice, so I knew it was coming, but I was terrified. At the same time, I was also relieved. Since my husband gets laid off every winter because of the field he is in, we decided to spend a couple weeks in our hometown with our family. I think we drove home on like the 19th of December and we stayed until the 5th of January. During that time, I tried not to think about being laid off, finding a new job, or anything else that was stressing me out. I spent lots and lots of time with the people I love and started to finally get myself back.
When we came back, besides looking for a new job, I spent a lot of time doing things for my sister's wedding that was coming up at the end of January. I did a lot for her wedding that I wouldn't have had the time to do if I was working a full time job and really enjoyed doing it. I was also able to be at home with her for few days before the wedding to help with all the last minute details. They ended up having a really beautiful wedding day and I am so grateful that she let me be such a big part of it.
In February, I decided it was time for me to do something I really enjoyed and to learn something new. So, I signed up for a photography course through a distance learning school. I do all my lessons at home, on my own time. There is a combination of reading, listening to CDs and watching videos. Then at the end of each unit, I submit a photography project to my adviser, who I have phone and email access to all the time, who grades my project and sends me a recorded discussion of what I did well and what I need to work on. I am really learning a lot and I can do it on my own time, which is great because when I do find a job, I don't have to give it up.
At the end of February, I was able to take 2 weeks and help my sister move to Maryland. Her husband is in the Air Force and was already stationed there. So, my husband and I, along with my parents and her new in-laws, helped her get everything packed up, moved, and settled into their new house. This was a big, scary new step for her, and I'm so glad I could be there and help her through the transition.
Since then, I've obviously been blogging a lot. But I've also been doing a lot of blog reading, twittering, job hunting, working on my photography, writing, researching other opportunities to bring in a little extra money, cooking for my husband and trying to enjoy all the little things around me. We moved at the beginning of May, which also took a lot of my time and energy, and I try to get outside every day and soak up the sunshine.
I certainly have good and bad days, but overall I think I've remained pretty positive and have seen a more relaxed version of my self emerge. My self-confidence is slowly returning and I find am more true to myself. I'm making plans for the future, but remaining open-minded, knowing that things may not go as I plan, but that there is a plan for my life!
So, that's it! That's what I've been up to! Currently, I'm in my hometown. Little miss spy and I have a good friend from high school who is getting married at the end of June. Her bachelorette party is tonight and her bridal shower is tomorrow, so we are enjoying time with friends and family!
Hope you all are having a great long weekend! :)
I was not happy at my last job. I could probably write forever about that place, but I won't. Suffice it to say that I was under appreciated and made to feel like I was a moron. (I am not a moron by the way. At the risk of sounding conceited, I am very intelligent and creative and a DAMN hard worker!) Anyway, I was staying because I was taught that life isn't perfect and you have to work hard to get what you want. You have to make sacrifices and do things you don't always like, pay your dues and climb the ladder. The money and insurance were great, so I sucked it up and gave 110% every day. But I wasn't happy and I was losing myself.
I was laid off around Christmas time. I was given advance notice, so I knew it was coming, but I was terrified. At the same time, I was also relieved. Since my husband gets laid off every winter because of the field he is in, we decided to spend a couple weeks in our hometown with our family. I think we drove home on like the 19th of December and we stayed until the 5th of January. During that time, I tried not to think about being laid off, finding a new job, or anything else that was stressing me out. I spent lots and lots of time with the people I love and started to finally get myself back.
When we came back, besides looking for a new job, I spent a lot of time doing things for my sister's wedding that was coming up at the end of January. I did a lot for her wedding that I wouldn't have had the time to do if I was working a full time job and really enjoyed doing it. I was also able to be at home with her for few days before the wedding to help with all the last minute details. They ended up having a really beautiful wedding day and I am so grateful that she let me be such a big part of it.
In February, I decided it was time for me to do something I really enjoyed and to learn something new. So, I signed up for a photography course through a distance learning school. I do all my lessons at home, on my own time. There is a combination of reading, listening to CDs and watching videos. Then at the end of each unit, I submit a photography project to my adviser, who I have phone and email access to all the time, who grades my project and sends me a recorded discussion of what I did well and what I need to work on. I am really learning a lot and I can do it on my own time, which is great because when I do find a job, I don't have to give it up.
At the end of February, I was able to take 2 weeks and help my sister move to Maryland. Her husband is in the Air Force and was already stationed there. So, my husband and I, along with my parents and her new in-laws, helped her get everything packed up, moved, and settled into their new house. This was a big, scary new step for her, and I'm so glad I could be there and help her through the transition.
Since then, I've obviously been blogging a lot. But I've also been doing a lot of blog reading, twittering, job hunting, working on my photography, writing, researching other opportunities to bring in a little extra money, cooking for my husband and trying to enjoy all the little things around me. We moved at the beginning of May, which also took a lot of my time and energy, and I try to get outside every day and soak up the sunshine.
I certainly have good and bad days, but overall I think I've remained pretty positive and have seen a more relaxed version of my self emerge. My self-confidence is slowly returning and I find am more true to myself. I'm making plans for the future, but remaining open-minded, knowing that things may not go as I plan, but that there is a plan for my life!
So, that's it! That's what I've been up to! Currently, I'm in my hometown. Little miss spy and I have a good friend from high school who is getting married at the end of June. Her bachelorette party is tonight and her bridal shower is tomorrow, so we are enjoying time with friends and family!
Hope you all are having a great long weekend! :)
2 comments :
Have a ball tonight and tomorrow!
I did the same thing you did after leaving my job in 2000. I took a lot of time for myself -- trying to remember who I was and what I enjoyed since the company I worked for really sucked the life out of me at the end. It was the best thing I did.
Please extend my hugs to your sister. It's never easy having a spouse in the military - let alone pulling up stakes and going somewhere new. Take it from one who knows well!
~ Jennifer
Hope you had a great night!
What a journey you have been on!
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