Gratitude List (Part 2)

I was once told that when I get into complacency, I need to write down a gratitude list.

Now that I have returned to work, I have gotten caught up in the pace of my day. I wake up by 7:30 am to get dressed, eat breakfast, and head out the door for a 45 minute commute to work. As a contractor, I focus on my work from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm -- seldom taking more than a 15 minute break to use the bathroom, grab a snack, or eat lunch. At the end of my workday, I pack up my laptop and lunch bag for the 45 minute commute home (leaving no trace that I had been there) .

So, before I get burned out one more time, I’ll restart my day by counting the blessings that have come my way:

1. I make breakfast and lunch for Barb and I every day. This is how I remind myself of all the work we did together  to get from the day I was laid off to today.


2. I actually look forward to going to work. More than just the means to get my needs met, I also acknowledge that I am making a contribution to getting the needs of others met in a spirit of love and service.


3. I learned to accept life on life's terms. I could only face my challenges with health and unemployment due to the encouragement and understanding of  friends and colleagues who chose to share  their own experience, strength and hope with me.


4. I came to to terms with a kind and loving God. Over time, I see that God is doing for me what I cannot not do for myself. Indeed, I am beginning to accept that my life has a meaning, purpose, and plan beyond just a futile reaction to those self-centered fears of Doom (the fear of losing what I have) and Gloom (the fear of not getting what I want).

I'm feeling better already.

Another Day, Another Dollar

I finally got paid this week, which I consider to be a major accomplishment worthy of a dinner out, since the job market continues to be tight. Contract positions still far outnumber full-time positions -- my suspicion (based on the recruiters that still call me) is that companies don't have the budget to pay for benefits and they need the flexibility to reduce headcount after the short-term assignments are over. The downside of contracting is that they tend to pay considerably less than full-time work -- but more than collecting an unemployment check  (see Plan B).

My wife and I had already sat down to see what the impact on the budget would be should I take a contract with an hourly salary that would be roughly about two-thirds of what I made at my last job (such as bringing lunch to work and the cost of adding me to my wife's health insurance plan). Well, we were pleasantly surprised that I actually managed to take home  $500 more because I didn't have pre-tax deductions (such as 401(k) plan or health care spending accounts) that full-time employees have as a "benefit".

So, after managing to deal with Doom and Gloom (those self-centered fears of losing what I have or not getting what I want) for the three weeks I have been on the job, the outcome is that my take home pay works out to be more than twice the amount that the unemployment checks were providing. We have already paid off credit cards and other bills using part of my severance pay, and there is still a reserve left over for such things as insurance payments and property taxes.

Perhaps all of the fretting about money has worked out to be a blessing in disguise actually, as Barb and I plan for retirement that is around the corner in 10 to 15 years. By continuing to live a bit more frugally now, we grow accustomed to a lifestyle that we could afford when we do stop working, meanwhile socking more than a few more bucks away in a money market fund or a Roth IRA.

Because of hard work and a little faith, the good times are back and the future looks bright.