Another Monday. I’m still getting accustomed to the fact that I don’t have a job to go to, but at least I didn’t wake up crying. That happens more often than I’d like…
In honor of National Panhellenic Conference Inc.'s International Badge Day, I’m proudly wearing my Alpha Phi badge on my cotton “Sleepless in Seattle” sleep tee. This is definitely not “badgewear” (for those not in the know, this is sorority terminology for wearing uncomfortable, classy, and conservative ensembles).
I stayed up late last night applying to four or five Editorial Assistant-type jobs. I’ve already scored a phone interview with H_____ for an awesome position that, if anything, I’m likely overqualified for. They called and e-mailed within a day of my submitting my resume and cover letter which, I hope, is a good sign. Now to remember the script I have worked out about how to frame the whole firing thing… “It was a personality conflict” is the main point I’m going to drive home. Plus my old company isn’t looking for anyone to fill my position. Can we say “layoff”? Except they laid me off in a way that they knew would be most damaging, both to my psyche and my reputation. Apparently, consistently outstanding work wasn’t good enough for my supervisor (who, by the way, was too cowardly to even attend the meeting in which I was told I was being “terminated” and left early so as to avoid seeing me after the fact – class act). I have decided working for a woman is almost always, without fail, a toxic situation.
But nevermind the past, despite how fresh it is in my memory. How am I coping, you ask? LIVING IT UP. Yes, I’m applying to every job I can, but I finally have the chance to do all of the things I’ve been wanting to do for so long but couldn’t before because of time constraints and/or the undue stress my old job caused. So I’m partying up in New York City this weekend with one of my best and oldest friends, Marlena, before heading out to Costa Rica toward the end of the month. I have half a mind to send my old supervisor a post card of all the lush flora and fauna that comprises the scenery in Costa Rica. Maybe it would read something like…actually, on second thought, I’ll just keep those sentiments to myself…
What have I learned in the past week and a half (give or take a couple days) of being fired and unemployed? Life actually does go on, whether you want it to or not. Cliché? Maybe. But true nonetheless. It’s your choice whether or not you want to keep up with it.
Do whatever comes to mind. Paint. Take up quilting. Even if you suck at it. In fact, I’m greatly enjoying doing an inordinate amount of things I know I’m no good at. Cooking, experimenting with wild shades of eyeshadow, um…blogging! I’m also getting back to my old, artistic roots by taking violin lessons again, as well as sketching and using pastels.
As Michel de Montaigne famously said, “There are defeats more triumphant than victories.” Every day, something, no matter how small it is, reveals itself to me to prove that this is indeed true.
