Ali decides to leave her day job and discovers Jewish guilt, what happens at Starbucks during the day and why TiVo isn’t essential.
Who knew there was so much to be learned from unemployment? Here are my personal revelations since (voluntarily) taking some time for myself and becoming my own boss.
Jewish guilt really does exist.
While I much prefer flannel over jeans and a night of wine and takeout over Vodka Red Bulls and clubbing, I’ve never felt comfortable sitting still for very long. I partially blame my mother (who’s constantly on the go), and I partially blame myself (for being who I am). As a freelancer, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience a small window of downtime between jobs, not giving me ample time to feel useless. But now? That useless feeling’s back with a vengeance! Only now, I call it guilt. Unnecessary guilt, sure. Because I chose to do this and I know that figuring out my life/passion(s)/purpose(s) must come first. But guilt, especially Jewish guilt, doesn’t like to be ignored. L’chaim?
Days are long, man!
Time flies when you have a specific task you know must get done. But when there are no jobs to accomplish or deadlines to meet, the clock moves just a tad slower. I’m hungry, what’s for lunch? Wait, it’s only 11 in the morning? Why isn’t the post office open yet? Oh. Yeesh.
You don’t really need TiVo.
I’ve accepted the fact that more often than not, I am in fact home in time to watch all eight or so shows I record. At first, it bugged me because what kind of a loser actually stops her shows from recording before they even begin? But then I realized that this really works to my benefit. Anal retentive tendencies reduced by having a nearly empty DVR because I’m all caught up on “Glee”, “Modern Family” and “Vampire Diaries” (to name a few)? Win-win.
You’re not alone.
All I need to do is brave the line at Starbucks any time of day to see that there are tons of people not working for one reason or another. Whether it’s by choice or by force, unemployed folk are everywhere! I like to think we connect on a deeper level than those in an office. (Just roll with it, okay?)
Priorities become…well, priorities.
In all seriousness though, this time out of the workplace has given me a lot to think about. I’m digging deep inside myself to find what matters to me, giving my subconscious permission to allow what I hold valuable to surface. Some stuff (traveling the world), I had no idea I wanted so badly, while other things (the importance of family) didn’t surprise me all that much. Regardless, I’m becoming more in tune with myself than I probably ever have.
What about you? Any recent revelations?
Photo Credit
“nowhere men” solidstate @Flicker.com. Creative commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Recent Ali Dubrow Articles:
- Beauty School Cop-Out
- Going Up? Not Anytime Soon
- Relationships: Let's Make a Deal (Breaker)
- Cats Playing Patty Cake: Almost Human?
- Hollywood Marriage: I Do (Not Think This Will Last)
Wish I had your outlook or attitude or however you like. I’ve been unemployed for two years (by force, not choice) and having outlived my welcome on benefits, am now sleeping on my parents couch since I lost my home and car. I lost everything, actually. When I get a couple of bucks, it isn’t spent at Starbucks. ‘Rolling with it’ is kind of an insult, really as there are so many of us who would love to work, can’t, find wall after wall, scam after scam and have become so depersonalized and depressed, ‘rolling with it’ means rolling off the couch to get up, check email, messages and find nothing is there.
I’m glad you had a choice and that you have something (or seem to) that keeps you together. There’s millions of others who aren’t so fortunate.
Simon…I think Ali is talking about a different kind of experience. It’s more of a choice she made to take time off and do some soul searching. Her article is about her observations while being unemployed. I hear your pain in your comments. Like many others, you have been devastated by the economic downturn. Eventually, things will change. They always do! In the meantime, what will you do with your downtime? That’s your choice. I’m not playing hardball here. I speak from my experience of having lost so much of my eyesight that I had to resign from my job. It was devastating to me, but I have chosen to envision a new purpose and direction in my life. Best wishes and hopes for you finding joy in your downtime and light at the end of the tunnel.