Sunday, January 3, 2021

If The Shoe Fits

It was a November morning when my colleague stopped by my cubicle to quietly let me know that layoffs were happening and that two writers were already gone.  A few minutes later, our manager stopped by and asked to meet with me privately.

He simply told me that the company was going through a reorganization instituted by the new CEO who arrived the previous August, and that I was being laid off with several others who worked for my manager. After six months, just like that,  I lost a permanent full-time  job, along with the perks that I didn’t have for the two years I worked as a contractor: the  health insurance , sick leave, accrued vacation,  401(k) plan, stock options, and the 20 minute commute.

It seems so straightforward now, as if it was somehow scripted to happen the way that it did. Yet,  as I look back over three years ago when I began this journey, every step that I have taken along the way haven't  been as orderly as I would like. There have been many forks  along the way, where my choices have brought me to a place where I am today. Along with those choices has been the endless chatter of Doom and Gloom (or those self-centered fears of losing what I have or not getting what I want)  that made me constantly worry about would happen if the other shoe fell.

Well, at least for the moment,  the other shoe has fallen on solid ground and it seems to fit. I completed my first big project last Friday  at my current assignment, and I was not shown the door on Monday.  In fact, I just completed another deadline at the end of this week, with more deadlines planned for the rest of the year.

Furthermore, between one friend offering to keep a look out for possible job opportunities or another  reminding me to be kind to myself, I know  that I am not trying to live a day at a time entirely on my own. Instead, I am just a fellow traveler on this journey called  Life.

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