Health & Fitness
The ABCs of Unemployment
This is not your preschooler's alphabet! Join me for a lighthearted yet serious journey through the ABCs of Unemployment.
Maybe I’m mentally regressing, but for some reason, I'm in the mood to recite the alphabet. I feel like painting you a simple picture of what it’s like to be unemployed (especially, what it's like to be unemployed for about 20 months now).
A is for the tedious job Applications they force you to fill out online.
B is for the Bad news I’ve received too many times when I didn’t get the job.
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C is for Counting my blessings and appreciating the good things I have in my life.
D is for being able to Dress in jeans and sneakers all day, every day.
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E is for Enjoying the time I spent in my sunny backyard this summer.
F is for Family and Friends who give me encouragement when I feel discouraged.
G is for Going back to school for another degree while I’ve been out of work.
H is for my Hot tub, a peaceful place to unwind from the chronic stress of job hunting.
I is for the Interviews I’ve been fortunate to secure a few times a month.
J is for a Job. I want one! I need one! Please offer me one!
K is for getting to Know myself better through introspection and reflection.
L is for Laughing at this whole drawn-out process because otherwise I might cry.
M is for the too many Millions of us who can't find a job these days.
N is for my Need to share what unemployment feels like with you!
O is for the Opportunities I’ve had to ask for help from others in my network.
P is for the bad Posture I’m developing from sitting too long at my computer.
Q is for the Quiet in my neighborhood when most people are at work or in school.
R is for my Resume, endlessly being tweaked and tailored to fit specific jobs.
S is for (guiltily) Sleeping later than I should on weekday mornings.
T is for Trying to stay upbeat and positive and to keep things in perspective.
U is for Underestimating how much I really wanted a particular job (when I don’t get it).
V is for the rewarding Volunteer work there’s more time and energy for now.
W is for Waiting impatiently to hear something – anything – after a job interview.
X is for sometimes feeling like I’m eXisting in limbo instead of living my life.
Y is for observing how Young the people are who’ve been interviewing me.
Z is for the number of job offers – Zero – I’ve received so far. (It only takes one!)
