As soon as I wrote this blog title, the Styx song started running through my head.
Going to regret that later...
But for now, it's appropriate.
I've been off of work for almost 10 months now.
Going from working a full-time, more than 40 hour per week job in corporate America to having all of this time on my hands has been a shock to my system.
Since I was 14-years-old, I've been working. Part-time in high school and college and full-time for the last 22 years.
Hustling and working hard and having projects to think about is part of who I am.
When I lost my job, it was like losing a whole piece of myself.
But, after so many months, I've realized that this time off has been good for me.
My boys needed me this past year more than ever for the unexpected ER trips, hospital stays and what seems like millions of doctor visits.
They needed my head in a clear place to think about how to best take care of them.
And it gave me time to think about what I want to do with my life from here.
I always wanted to do more with my writing, and share my story.
I've used some of this time to share inspiring content with people all over the world, facilitating workshops to help teach positive mindset, leadership skills during a crisis and ways to communicate more authentically.
And....I finally published my book!
For more than 30 years it was a dream of mine and this unexpected work hiatus allowed me to make it come true.
For that, I'm grateful, even though this time has also come with a lot of struggle.
My boys would tell you that having so much time on my hands drives them a little nuts though.
I'm available almost too much for them. To ask questions, to try to engage them in conversation, to always be around.
And well...they are teenage boys. Hanging with mom isn't their favorite thing to do, even when we aren't in the midst of a pandemic.
Job hunting has been an adventure. A total roller coaster (and if you remember from a previous post I don't like them that much anymore!).
There are so many good people vying for the same jobs.
I'm in several groups where we meet weekly and network and it amazes me the level of talent out there struggling to find their next career move.
I think this pandemic is showing the true colors of lots of companies out there. The way they treat their potential candidates being a big one.
The amount of poor communication during the interview process makes me sad.
I feel for the folks working in HR right now, but for those of us just trying to get a job, we deserve better than having our emails go unanswered or being ghosted after making it to the nearly final step in the interview process.
I've learned so much over the last 10 months, about myself, about the things I like to do that make me happy, and the ways I can try to see all of this as a learning experience.
The time will come (hopefully soon!) when I'm back to work full-time.
Once that happens, I'm sure I'll be wishing for some of this spare time back.
For now, I'll keep taking it day by day, doing what I can to move forward.
If any of you reading this are in the same boat, keep your head up. If there's anything I've learned in life, it's that things can change in an instant.
Keep your eyes and ears open. Be ready and willing when that opportunity presents itself.
And try to enjoy the time while you have it!
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