Unemployment happens. Sometimes it happens again and again. In my case, twice within a span of less than two years; the majority of those twenty months spent unemployed.
I was asked if I am more prepared for this hardship now than the first bout of unemployment. Heck no. You still feel the panic and the emotional turmoil surround you like a thick black fog. Suffocating. Okay, so it wasn't that dramatic. I actually didn't feel much which is not to say that the event is any less stressful. I was aware that each day could be my last and was greatful for the few months that I was employed. I am also hopeful that this is merely temporary.
In any case, when life gives you lemons, what do you do? Do you:
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Curl up in a fetal position and rock yourself back and forth and search the recesses of your mind for that happy place.
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Fall into a downward spiral of depression and despair crying "Woe is me?"
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Binge on $1 menu items until you pass out. (This one is quite tempting!)
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Take those lemons and sell them to make a few bucks.
Of course, number 4. Take something and make something. What have I done so far?
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File a claim to restart unemployment insurance benefits. DONE
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Requested more work from my freelance jobs that I had established during the first period of unemployment. (Yes, I kept these small jobs after obtaining FT work. I'm no fool!) DONE
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Withdraw son from daycare. DONE
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Take inventory of items to sell on eBay this week. DONE
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Brainstorm and list topics for new articles to write this week. DONE
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Clean my home office in preparation to work my pants off this week. DONE
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Bake a weird gluten-free, dairy-free, raw sugar banana/peanut flour bread so as not to waste the overripe bananas sitting on my counter. Hey, unemployment does not allow for the waste of food products. DONE
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Rake leaves and scoop poop from the back yard. FAIL (Seriously?)
Now it's time to find some Superbowl snacks!
