Unemployment - Keep Positive, Keep Busy

Today is a beautiful leap day outside.  The sun is shining, there is hardly any wind, and the temperature is supposed to reach a perfect 71 degrees.  I can't believe it is still February.  Rewind back to last week and I thought I would never get well.  I spent most of last week feeling weak, tired, and groggy.  I finally had the flu hit me Thursday night to explain all the cruddiness I had been experiencing.  I became a hermit last week with the exception of teaching a few practice classes at the studio.  

Although the weather outside is tremendously beautiful, I am still feeling a little down on myself.  I did not get the job I was so hopeful about last week.  That tid-bit of information sprung on me Friday and finally hit my reality on Monday.  I'm still undecided on what career path to choose and I'm beginning to get restless.  

I do, however, search for and hold on to all the positives of being unemployed.  Believe me, they do exist and I'm not always down on myself.  I have compiled a small list of the perks of unemployment thus far - because, honestly, I might go insane if didn't do this.

1.  I get to sleep in until 8:00 am or 8:30 am.  This has been nice.  I am typically a morning person and early riser, so stepping of bed at this later time is quite nice.

2.  I get to enjoy my breakfast and coffee slowly and quietly.  There is no rushing to get dressed to get to work or waiting to eat a quick breakfast at my desk when I get to work.

3.  I get to hang out with my dogs all day.  I get to hear them snore at my feet as I peruse facebook the Internet for jobs and hear them chase after bones and squirrels in their dreams.

4.  I get to grocery shop during the weekdays in leisure.  No hurrying, no crowds, no lines, and great parking.

5.  I get to workout during the day and get it done at a decent time rather than late in the evening or early morning.

6.  I can clean the house during the weekdays and have more free time with Sparky on the weekends.  This is one of the things I try to do regularly to pass time.  I average cleaning the floors 3-4 times a week.  When you have 4 shedding dogs it is absolutely necessary.  I may even up this to 5 times a week as it gets warmer.

Those are just a few perks that I enjoy daily.  My days do seem to go by quickly even though it seems I don't talk to many people on a daily basis.  My mornings consist of about 4-5 hours of job searching, job applications if I find anything worth my while, contemplating my future, researching about becoming a freelance writer, and corresponding back and forth through e-mail.  My afternoons I focus on cleaning up the house, doing laundry, and spending some time with the dogs for some sanity on my part.  I am going to start some organizing projects soon and painting projects so that I will have some great tips for you all.  I already re-organized my bookshelf in my office so that post is coming soon.

So my advice to anyone out there in a similar situation as mine is to do everything you can to keep positive and keep busy.  You may not technically have a job to report to everyday, but you should still put yourself on a schedule and stay consistent.  Leave some time for structure and leave some time for fun while you have this opportunity in life for it.  This will help keep your sanity,  I promise.  Your daily life is still full of responsibility so you should definitely take all those responsibilities seriously.  This will help you to be a self-starter which is what many employers are looking for anyway!

Keep on Keepin on.

Confidence and Coffee

Today I am feeling confident.  I have some big decisions still to make but I feel like I'm moving in the right direction.  I feel like I am where I need to be and I will go where I am supposed to go.

When I made the decision to leave my job, my biggest worry wasn't necessarily where am I going to work now (although that was on my mind).  Honestly, my biggest worry was what am I going to do with my time?  I am a restless person by nature.  I can endure, maybe, one day of resting and doing nothing before my mind is racing.  I get bored VERY quickly.  My mind is my best friend and my best adversary all at the same time.  I also drink a lot of coffee; doesn't really help the situation.  I've tried restricting myself to just green tea, but now I just drink both.  I'm weak.  I digress a lot too.

With that said, surprisingly, I've enjoyed my two weeks of unemployment!  I've kept myself busy and even Sparky has quite enjoyed seeing my happy little mug (face, not coffee mug) more often.  He also likes that when he comes home from work & riding his bicycle that the house is cleaned, dinner is made, his laundry is done, and I'm smiling.  I might get the hang of this after all...

Probably not.  There are quite a few things in the works at the same time.  I have options and that's my biggest dilemma right now.  One of the activities that has kept me busy is that I've been training this past month to be a barre3 instructor.  I am so incredibly excited about this opportunity, although it will more than likely be strictly part time.  I am excited about pursuing a passion and promoting health and fitness.  I am also so excited to surround myself with mentally and physically strong women who are also so intelligent and beautiful in so many ways.  It is such a positive atmosphere and I am so excited about this part of my future.

In addition, I have been interviewing at one business nearby.  I have been interviewed four times already and will have my fifth interview today as well.  I have a feeling that I will probably have at least two additional interviews after today's interview.  Apparently I interview well and I should provide interview tips...so I've been told.  Anyway, the position is a great opportunity and so far I am the only person to make it this far in the interview process for this specific position.  I am staying positive and relaxed about it.  

In addition to all the above, a friend of mine and I have been plotting launching our own business!  This  business is something I have dreamt about for years and with her AMAZING talents, I feel that this dream for the both of us may actually come true!  She has been so wonderful and patient with all my ups and downs (mostly downs) this year so far, but I feel I am making a comeback in my confidence.  Today we have a meeting about the business for some professional advice, and we already have a client lined up in March to add to our portfolio.  More details to come soon!

If the job opportunity doesn't pan out, I am flirting with the idea of moving into the freelance world of writing, editing, and proposal consulting...maybe even start writing a book.  That's on the back burner for now until I know more about all the other variables going on right now.

So, I'm planning.  I'm plotting.  I haven't gone into complete seclusion, yet.  And I'm drinking coffee.  Lot's of coffee.

Keep on Keepin on.

Decisions

Life is all about choices...right?  And with all those life choices we are obligated to decisions.  Every day we can make decisions from the simplest or mundane forms to the life altering and life changing.  We are most often exposed to the simple.  The life changing decisions can define who we are or who we want to be in this world; they help build the foundation of our character.  I struggle with decisions every day because I am fearful of their impact on my life and others.

The year of 2012 has forced me into big decisions.  I am grateful for the opportunity and freedom to experience the choices in front of me, but I have never been so afraid in all my life of the impact of my decisions.  A huge part of this fear is because my decisions affect a whole other human being now that I am married (and four little dogs).  The upside is that Sparky is so supportive of whatever path I choose...assuming that I eventually come to peace with a decision.

I am currently unemployed.  Wow.  Typing those four words makes it so real.  I did make the decision to leave my most recent place of employment without a real plan.  This is the first time I've ever stepped out on my own without a solid plan.  I am a planner.  I am a controller.  I make sure I know what happens next and at least five steps afterward.  It is my nature and always has been.  Fear consumes me every millisecond of ever moment I breathe.  But, more importantly, I know my value.  Self worth will always overcome fear; that is what I repeat to myself.

I may not have solid plans, but I have ideas.  I am excited to share my ideas with the world, mold my ideas into plans, and make my ideas my reality.

Keep on Keepin on.