It has been a while since I've posted a blog. I've been quiet because I things have been quiet for me - I'm still working on finding
Rather than focusing on how terrible it is that I'm not working full-time, I thought I'd share with you some of the benefits I'm currently experiencing as a result of my unemployment.
1) I have more time to focus on my spiritual side. Since I've been home I've felt the need to strengthen my relationship with God. I'm praying more and attending church more than the every once in a while I did when I lived in NYC. I didn't make the time before, but now that excuse (no time) has been removed.
2) I have plenty of time to spend working out and as a result I've lost 22 lbs. (and going) since I first realized I was gaining weight at an alarming rate (for me). Working out is also a great stress reliever for me and it does wonders for my mood. I have about 8 more lbs. to lose before I reach my target weight and it's been great to have people notice all of the hard work(outs) I've been putting in.
3) I'm getting to know my family much better. I'm sure most of you are scratching your head and thinking - "get to know her family better what does that mean?" Although I saw them at holidays and talked to them on the phone (and later by Skype), there was an awful lot going on that I missed in ten years away simply because I wasn't here. It's been nice for me to allow myself to catch up with the circles of life happening right here in my own family and getting to know them as an adult.
4) My friends, former co-workers and acquaintances have been great about sending me job listings, hooking me up with freelance projects, connecting me with volunteer opportunities, introducing me to their network for informational calls/meetings and offering me places to stay when I need to come to town for a visit. It's a really great feeling when people are willing to lend a helping hand. There have been a few friends who have really kept me going throughout this period and I'm eternally grateful for their help and support. Never underestimate the power of encouragement - it really does make a difference on a bad day!
5) I'm also still continuing to learn Spanish - although I'll admit I haven't spent nearly as much time with my grammar books as I should recently. I do make sure to squeeze in at least an hour per day of Spanish language programming and I'm happy to say that I comprehend (with captions) about 65-70% of the language without looking up the words as much in my dictionary. I still need to work in my grammar books a lot more though.
Now this isn't to say that I don't have bad days, hours and weeks, but I think the most important thing for me in getting through this time of unemployment intact is my attitude. I've had to make sure that I really focus on surrounding myself with positive people and positive energy. It's really easy (for me) to get into a funk of self doubt and self pity, so I have really tried to make sure I don't spend a lot of time talking to people who help me to get to those places quickly (even if it's family). It's nothing personal, just something I have to do in order to preserve my mental health and sanity.
This period of unemployment has also taught me more about my capacity for persistence and patience. Some of the informational calls and meetings took me months to set up, but they finally happened - I'm still waiting on a few more to happen. The fact that they are happening makes me more optimistic than I've been in a long time. I can't give up! Good things come to those who wait right?
Mwuah,
Georgia Peach
PS - if you've heard of partnership, lifestyle or entertainment marketing openings please do feel free to check out my Linkedin profile.
PPS - if you're on twitter follow me!
5 comments:
Enjoy your time off while you can. Also listen to the directions in which God wants you to go. It may totallly different from the path you plan. I wrote a book during my time off. Be Encourage
Thank you J! You're the 2nd person to say that in the past two days...I'm finally listening.
Nice, I look forward to your next post
You indeed have time for a lot of things that the full-time employment does not quite allow for, so enjoy, Gleana! Your dream job will get to you when it is a good time for it. But I am really glad to hear that you are accepting the gifts given to you now and cherishing them. All the very best from the bottom of my heart!
Thank you D and Maria. I'm finally learning that it's better to cherish the gifts and time than to complain about them. :) Tough, but valuable lesson. Thanks for reading. :)
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