After one year of unemployment, it seems it's time to begin a blog. I don't know how many readers I'll have and I'm not going to worry about it. If you've never been unemployed by no choice of your own, I hope to give you an insight to what it's like, how the job search affects not only your life and that of your family but how it also affects friends, neighbors, and those you meet as life goes on. Please post your reactions to my comments or make a contribution that would benefit this new community. For those of you who have been forcibly unemployed, I especially encourage your comments and contributions.
Today, like most mornings, I woke up wondering what lies ahead and starting a blog wasn't even on the list. As my first five words of this blog state, it's been a year since I've gone into the office. It's strange to think that 378 days have gone by and I'm still doing the same thing each and every day. I wake up at 6:15am to the sound of Bruno (that's my basset hound; all 95 pounds of him) gently asking me to get up. He wants his walk and his breakfast. I get myself dressed and then get Bruno dressed. These days that means just his collar but he understands that when the collar is taken off late at night, it's bedtime and when we put it on in the morning, a new day has begun.
So we're off for a 30 to 45 minute walk. Today's route took us north on Memorial Drive, left on Ravinia, across Memorial Drive onto Seymour, one block to Bouten, right on Bouten, right onto Verbrick, back across Memorial Drive and then home. He loves this morning walk. It's our time together and it's good for both of us. Bruno heard all about what I planned to do this morning long before Bill (that's my husband - but most of you will know him as Doc) ever knows what's in the cards. Back inside, Bruno got a big drink of water and patiently waited for breakfast to be fixed. Not every morning is like today. Usually Bruno let's me know that he's hungry and I should hurry up. I'm never sure that he isn't stating this on behalf of Lily, the resident queen kitty, too.
By 7:30am everyone has breakfasted and I've started the coffee and my computer. While the coffee was brewing, I checked email. It's Monday so I'm a bit amused with myself - who on earth could have possibly contacted me about a job since last night, Sunday? No one, that's who. But being an enternal optimist and still having hope, I checked it. In these craziest of times, those of us chasing our tail, er, in a career pursuit, check email each and every day. Several times a day. Several times an hour. Because when that next possible employer taps you with an email and says, "I want to see/speak/email/communicate with you about an opportunity you responded to," you don't want to keep them waiting. They have many candidates to choose from and you've just been able to get their attention. That's big!
So far today, there hasn't been a new contact but it is Monday and it is early in the day. I do have several opportunities that I am very interested in; one of them would keep me in my home the others all require a move. I don't mind the thought of moving. It means change and right now, I kind of welcome change. I've always embraced it at work and in my personal life. Experts would say that too much change is difficult to handle and can cause serious depression, anxiety, etc. So can being unemployed. I say, too much of the same is harder.
Welcome to my blog.
Punch bowl
A recent dinner party at home.
About Me
- Donna Syverson
- Barrington, Illinois, United States
- Creative, passionate, customer-centric, team oriented. As a marketing professional, I have an extensive direct response marketing communications and branding background with consulting experience in third world and developing countries. I'm a big picture thinker and strategic visionary who can break apart from the pack without fear and with conviction. My expertise extends to multi-national negotiations, establishing and maintaining partnerships and relationships, customer analysis and retention, managing campaign profitability and social media. My peers say I have outstanding project management skills and have used Lean methodologies and tools for waste reduction, process improvement, and customer satisfaction and retention. A persuasive and credible speaker with insightful judgment, I have been complimented on my diplomacy and tact in difficult situations.
Bruno
Bruno, the lovable Basset Hound.
2 comments:
Oh, I hear ya about the depression while being out of work. I've only been off 2 1/2 months and I have a hard time motivating myself to do anything. Thank goodness for the dog! He gets me off my butt. :) I wish I could help you find a job that would keep you in your home. This is a brutal economy. Anything I can do to help, just let me know.
i know some of the same emotions...been unemployed since jan. 08. have been fortunate to temp some in the local school district offices, & another occasional secretarial position a few times a month. it is tough to pursue positions time after time, getting excited, believing 'this' is the one, sometimes get the interview, sometimes not, have them go pretty well, in my estimation, then hear i'm extremely qualified but they went with someone else, or... the position has been frozen--no longer available, etc. i used to like rollercoasters, but that's when they're outside, not in front of my computer, receiving the 'thrill' in my email... i believe all things happen for a reason, & that in the end, they all work out for our best, if we choose to look at the other side of them--change our expectations for our life.
here's to hanging in there & seeing where the paths take us! and in the meantime, i'm gonna take my dog for a walk! :)
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