Sunday, January 02, 2011

The Fate of Unemployment

Being unemployed sucks.  There is no better way to describe it than that.  What's worse is being unemployed during the holidays.  That sucked pretty bad but not for lack of money.  Oh hell, of course it was.  I wanted to spend money just like everyone else and buy gifts for family and friends. I'd really like to buy myself a little something too and not just from the thrift shop.

At least I can be honest here.  It also sucks to be 50 and unemployed.  To only have an Associates degree.  I could just keep going on and on.  I live in one of the highest areas for unemployment.  Good ole Oswego County likes to hover at around 10%.  I won't even mention the New York State statistics.

What really sucks is lack of motivation.  I'm not motivated.  I'm so depressed that I can't see my way out of the woods right now.  No wonder people commit suicide during the holidays.  I'm surprised there isn't a mass die off of people this time of year, especially if they've been let go from their jobs.

It's the most demoralizing feeling in the world.  I don't feel like picking myself back up and trying to sell myself.  I don't feel like doing anything lately.  If I could I would leave.  I have no idea where I would go or how I would get there.  But I would just leave.

But that's not possible is it?

And what's funny?  Really hilarious?  I was just barely making ends meet.  Just barely.  But I felt good, like I was going to be ok.  And I hadn't felt like that in such a long time.  And just before I was laid off from my job a person asked me if I wished my second job (the only one I have now) was my full time one.  They wanted to know if I liked it better.  My answer was that I considered it just that, a second job, and that the job I lost was my "meat and potatoes" job.  It was where my benefits were.  Where I had worked for twelve years.  Where I had the most experience and knowledge.  It was my career.  It was where I was most comfortable and where I felt I actually made a difference in people's lives. 

But I guess I was too comfortable and I spoke too soon because fate certainly didn't agree with me and fate doesn't give a rat's ass about my age, lack of college education or motivation.  

And that sucks.

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