“So, like, WHAT do you do ALL day? You must have so much time because you’re unemployed,” my little cousin asked me one day as we were walking to breakfast. She had a week off of middle school, so I had invited her to come into “the city” (Boston), 45 minutes northeast of where she lives, and have a sleepover. We always have a fun time together–making modge-podge collages, going to our favorite sushi joint, recording silly videos on our family members’ Facebook walls, and playing lacrosse–but as we were walking that day, little did she know I was frantically strategizing how I was going to do what I needed to/wanted to get done while also having a jam-packed day of cousin fun!
“TIME? Time? Ha,” I snapped back. Actually, I didn’t really snap at all; but I did snap a little inside. (How dare anyone think I would waste my time doing nothing?, is what I thought.) “I actually do a lot. Tweet, blog, apply for jobs, search for jobs to apply for, follow-up on applications, follow-up on follow-ups on applications, network, keep up with industry blogs and news, work odd jobs (babysit, dog sit, house sit, social media consulting) to supplement my unemployment funds–and that’s basically to market myself as a stellar potential hire and to pay the bills. I also like to do other things: Workout, play tennis, write in my personal journal, read, do art, volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association, see friends.”
“Duh. I forgot that you don’t like to sit still,” she replied. “Oh Khrista, you’re such a spaz.” We laughed as we strolled down Newbury Street arm-in-arm. She inherited some of our family’s spaz gene, too.
That's me (freezing cold) on a boat while crewing Elaine's English Channel Swim.
I’m not in the slightest bit complaining. (My biggest complaint is that anyone would think that I’d do nothing all day.) Sure, getting laid off in the midst of an economic depression is a total drag. And being “currently unemployed” gets real old, real fast. But I have no doubts and no regrets in how I’ve used my unemployed time: I’ve solidified my career goals and aspirations; I helped a friend raise money to swim the English Channel (she donated some of those funds to the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society)–and was lucky enough to experience her swim first-hand as her crew member; I had an awesome “apprenticeship”/internship in which I learned so much; I was able to spend a little-more-time-than-usual with my family in Buffalo; volunteered for some causes for which I’m passionate; read some great books; and met some great people. But now: I am soooo ready for a full-time balls-to-the-wall job.
It will happen soon! Keep the faith and keep doing what you’re doing- they will recognize very soon what a wonderful worker you would be!
balls to the wall! i like this post because i think that is a common misconception about unemployment: if you arent working, you dont have a life!
[...] posts explaining my search for a satisfying job (See Zen and the Art of Job Identification and I Don’t Really Like Sitting Still). But, let’s face it, I need some sort of monetary help to support my current life, to meet [...]