On Monday March 4th after 14 years of gainful, fortuitous, gratifying employment in a major corporation I was laid off. It was 10am, the start of a new working day but it was the END of my career as I knew it - or it was a huge mogul on that path. If you care to please join me below the squiggle to read of details. Thanks in advance for reading.
I've been a Kossack for many years in my mind and heart. I've lurked, perused and finally committed to being what I considered to be an active participant by signing up for a Permanent subscription before they were no longer offered. Thank heavens I decided to commit to that, dedicated commitment-phobe that I know I could be. I love this community. Always have, always will because it's not just about politics. It's about people; their struggles, challenges, dreams, hopes, actions and all the vital things that comprise making up what a community of REAL people is all about. I've been witness to just what lengths folks here have gone here to to help out their fellow Kossacks whether that was emotionally or financially when conditions dictated that it be so. I could not be more grateful or honored to be part of this community. I have offered verbal and financial support when I could. My heart is always with everyone here.
I'm not necessarily proud to say that I was more or less an bystander when I would read about the struggles of folks who posted about being unemployed and their various job search struggles that would exceed years: 1 year, 2 years and beyond. I never actively judged someone who wasn't able to find gainful employment with health benefits. Having been gainfully employed when I offered comments and financial support when I could, I have to say that I really didn't fully understand the REAL PAIN that my fellow Kossacks were going through. Bleh!
That being said I wanted to share what my own personal experience has been about thus far. It's not that I never thought it would happen to me personally. It was more about WHEN I KNEW in my heart the same thing that has befallen so many of my brethren would befall me that I want to share about.
So here I am thus far. At a crossroads. Feeling all those feelings myself that I've only read about so far. For me I can only say this is my PERSONAL experience.
I KNEW this was coming. Call me nutso but I had a very strong sense that getting laid off was definitely going to happen to me. For what it's worth it's seeming to be the best thing to happen to me. For the last few years I've been wanting to go home and be with my dad in northeastern Wisconsin. Funny how the karmic wheel works. I put it out to the Universe for the last few years that I wanted to be with my dad; wanted to be home so I could look after my dad. I believe that is NO COINCIDENCE that all the anchors that have been holding me in New York City were removed one by one in very short order. My job being eliminated was the last component of that process.
Don't get me wrong. I definitely felt fear and sadness over losing my job. It's terrible to have a job ripped from you, to no longer wake up and have a place to go and tasks to perform for a wonderful group of people. It was just flat out weird to wake up and NO LONGER HAVE A PLACE TO GO after 14 years.
What I can say is that I've not been giving in to the fear and uncertainty. I've chosen to look more at what I had been asking of the Universe: that I can go home and be with my dad. Looking at it that way I can see losing my job has really been a blessing and since deciding to move back home there has been no obstacle in my way to accomplish that.
That is not to say it WON'T be HARD to find another job. The market in NE WI is challenging but I'm choosing to believe that my desire to be home to care for my dad and going along with the karmic flow that NOW is the time to move back based on my desire to do so is perfect timing.
I have no idea what lies ahead for me. I'm going to be 54 in May. But I'm choosing to look at this as a bend in the path of my life. I'm choosing to believe that there is a job with health benefits just waiting for me when I get there. It might take a little bit of time to find it BUT IT'S THERE FOR ME.
I wish all of you looking to find a new home on their path of life to settle in soon.
Good Karma and best wishes to all who are searching,
DEs