Today was a tough day at the office. Over the past couple of weeks, my company (a Fortune 500) has been downsizing. A new Board was elected in the fall and the old president resigned and a new man was brought in. Change was inevitable.
Last week about 500 positions were eliminated and today in my group 131 position were eliminated. (My office of 66 had 12 losses, 11 left today; one nut left Friday and could have been given a severance package)I am sure there were probably a few others here and there. The team I am on survived with only a switch in responsibility of one person. The rest of us can pick up that slack. But as of this morning driving in, no one knew who would be gone. But we knew some would be. In the long run, there will be more work, but it is also an exciting time in that we have plans moving forward.
The long and short of it that life happens and many things we do not control. I am glad to have the security of a job that I like. But I also was thinking if it is I who goes, I might have a chance at a better opportunity elsewhere. My boss has been a real PIA and I was leaning that way. Of course once she found out where things stood, she began to lighten up.
Also, there was a part of me that remember the last downsizing I went through in 2001 (while still in a state of uneasiness over the marriage which broke up 15 months earlier). The economy was horrendous. I didn't have a full-time job for 2 1/2 years. But during that 2 1/2 years, I actually found a temp job that I enjoyed. That temp job turned into this full-time position I have now. It didn't just happen. My temp assignment was up and I found yet another temp job which wasn't bad actually because I like my boss while hating the content. But I was able to work 50-60 hours a week and pay off some bills. Lo and behold a couple months later I was called in for an interview to become full-time at my current job. And thankfully, even with a career change at the ripe old age of 48, I am still here.
So here you all are. You are in a place you never expected. Life didn't turn up the right cards. But you persevere. You find a helping hand along the way. You keep moving forward staying open to what life may offer. Because 4 1/2 years ago, I had no idea that this particular job existed. The recruiter who found the temp spot for me was one I had contacted monthly for almost 2 years. And he called up one day and said "I got something for you and it is different, but take a look." And this is one of the reasons that I can say that from the depth of my despair, the fact that I kept moving forward (as I always tell you and yes, I am telling you) has led me to a place in life where I have never been happier.
You can be happier too, no matter what has happened to you in the past. I am living proof. And all I am is a person just like all of you.
