I'm learning a lot about myself through this pandemic and the safer at home order.
Especially when it comes to how I behave when things frustrate me or try my patience.
For the first time in my life, I've found myself unemployed.
I filed online for unemployment and things went through just fine on my initial setup. I was grateful for that, as I know others who weren't so lucky.
But when it came time to file my first weekly claim, it turned out I had made a mistake.
A silly, simple mistake.
I had entered my last employment date as the end of the pay period instead of the Friday that had marked the beginning of my furlough.
Because of this mistake, unemployment thinks I worked the first date of my first official week claiming unemployment. They won't process my claim until I correct that date.
You'd think there would be an easy way to correct that mistake, wouldn't you?
Well, it turns out there isn't. I have to talk to a live person at the DWD to get that date corrected so my claims can go through.
Simple enough, right? There's a phone number to call.
I'll get someone on the line, they'll make the change and I'll go on my merry way and file my claims.
Then from there I go into the pool of people who are waiting for the money our employers have paid in over the years for situations like this.
Here's where the lesson in patience comes in...
More than 400 tries and a week later, I've found it impossible to get through on the phone line to talk to a real person to get this fixed.
I started hearing the voice from the automated messages in my dreams.
There are two different voices I hear:
One woman's voice telling me the line is not available.
A second woman's voice giving me hope when she answers. She tells me to enter my SS number and press #2 to get help with my claim, only to then tell me that the queue is full and that she is going to disconnect my call.
I have never in my life been so frustrated or had anything try my patience like this process.
It's opening my eyes to the fact that I'm not nearly as patient of a person as I thought.
And I can only imagine the tens of thousands of others who are likely having the same issue and how this is trying their patience as well.
I am forced to be held captive by my phone, day after day, from the hours of 7:35 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., trying to get through to someone.
There are so many more important things I could be doing with my time and my mental energy right now. This does not help me maintain perspective.
This entire pandemic is a lesson in patience.
Not just for me. But for all of us.
Patience with the process.
Patience with technology.
Patience with our families.
Patience with ourselves.
It's up to me to role model patience for my boys right now too.
I can't let this frustration make me throw things against the wall and kick and scream (as much I may want to).
I have to show up as a leader and make the most of it. Do whatever I can to figure out how to get through this.
Sit on the phone for hours on end if I have to, and do it with a smile on my face.
Because patience is key right now, no matter how shitty this is.
When we finally come out the other side of this, we'll have learned a lot about ourselves and each other.
True colors will come out, we'll see who can maintain composure when the sh*t is hitting the proverbial fan.
We're all going to slip up from time to time and let this get the best of us. It certainly did for me last week. My boys heard me cry tears of frustration and anger.
And I know in the grand scheme of things, this minor issue I have is nothing compared to what others are going through.
But I'd like to say I was one of the ones who was able to pull myself together and ride this out with a measure of grace and dignity.
I'll let you know next week how I do with that.
Hang in there friends - this too shall pass, right?
Love you all - stay safe and well!
Comments