And just like that, with the snap of his fingers, they were gone.
Being a highly sensitive, I love movies. I get immersed in them. It's an escape from my own reality, which, let's just say, is an anxious one. (To those that don't know, I am referencing the Avengers Infinity War movie in that first sentence.)
Some of the top stressors in life are: death of a loved one; major illness; divorce; moving; and job loss. I have gone through three of the five in the last four years (two of which occurred in the last year: moving and job loss). Ironically, even though I am Miss Anxiety, I am doing okay. Mainly because I think the hardest for me to deal with would be some catastrophic illness like cancer, or the loss of a child. My heart goes out to anyone who has to endure such heart breaking sorrow or pain. And I still have yet to write about my divorce, but feel that long enough time has passed for me to be healed enough to do so; however that is for another day.
Today's blog is about unexpected job loss, which is why I refer to that scene from Infinity Wars, although I realize that comment mostly refers to death. Death is the ultimate disappearing act from the living; whereas loss of a job, is merely you disappearing from that place of work.
Last week, I had the surreal experience of sitting at my desk and having my VP come up to me and say: "Can you come with me for a moment". And just like that, I walked away from my desk, never to return.
My place of work went through budget cuts. It happens. It's a reality for many people and many businesses. It's a reality of life. In fact, it happened to me before (23 years ago) at my first job working at a hospital.
This morning, as I laid in bed, I was imagining all of us who were let go basically evaporating from our workplace. And for those remaining, this first week has all of them walking around with our disappearance laying heavily on their minds; with our ashes, so to speak, floating in our empty cubes. (On a side note, I will add that I truly wish all of them the best and I have no hard feelings because it was a business necessity to downsize.)
Today's musings are more about my identity. My first day waking up and not having a job to go to had me feeling a little lost. What is my purpose? Why am I here? The busywork of going to a full time job every day gave me a purpose. But even as I type that, I cringe. This job was in no way my life's purpose. In fact, I get more impassioned the more I think about that. I am a people person. I am a nurturer. I am a mom to three amazing daughters. I am an encourager, supporter, motivator to those around me. I am not meant to sit at a desk all day, not doing those things. There is much more to life than merely existing. In fact, recently, I keep hearing and seeing this quote more and more: "You are not here to merely survive. You are here to THRIVE." Amen. That has been resonating with me so much of late. I don't want to merely survive. To merely exist. To go to a job I am not passionate about and literally waste away. In fact, if you are not living your true passion and are merely existing, all you feel is the miseries of life. The aches and pains and illnesses. We all have our own unique gifts and talents that we are meant to share with the world. When we can live to our full potential and beauty, then THAT my friends is THRIVING. And that is exactly what I want to do...plan to do...WILL do...AM doing by writing this blog!
So, my wish for you today my friends is this...may you THRIVE! May you live life to the fullest, using your natural gifts, and truly love it!
For now, I am going to truly enjoy every minute of my current reality. And there is so much to enjoy...particularly not having to wake up early (I am so NOT a morning person!), not having to always be in a rush to get things done before and after work, not having to constantly be stressed because there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done when you are at your job for 9 hours a day, etc. However, since I did not win the lottery, a full time job will once again be my reality at some point. But until that time, I will read and write and organize my home and chill with my daughters, as much as I can. And I will continue to find ways in which I can thrive, since life is so short and precious.
Thrivingly Yours,
SG
Motivational Moment:
Today's Moment is one of my Life’s Little LaughablesTM. And although it is not a laugh out loud one, it gives me a chuckle about human nature. Human nature is the immediate spreading of shocking news. Maybe it's because most of us are bored and we like the thrill of the shock. I thought it was funny at how many people reached out to me immediately after I was let go. Many of these people no longer worked at my place of employment (some even out of state), however news travels fast. The beautiful thing here is that they all wished me well. That's the beauty of being a highly sensitive and a people person. I truly wish people well. I want them to be happy. I encourage and support them. So it was beautiful to experience these wishes towards me from so many of my current co-workers as well as former ones.
I wish you all love and support, not only during life's stressors, but at all times.
Peace, Love, and Hugs,
SG
