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Lay-off Lemonade

After 3 months of working from home and worrying about my job, my health, and my family, and asking myself when this would all end….I was laid off. 

I had many questions.. 

Could my husband (Lee) and I survive this financially? We have been married for 14 years. We have weathered other ‘storms’, but the uncertainty is scary.

Would I find another job I loved as much as my last one? (I was a District Manager for 10 Preschools)I was so happy at my last job. How will I get hired during this challenging time?

What would I do all day? (I am used to working about 60  hours a week…and I loved it!)I could not imagine watching tv all day…

How could I tell people I was laid off?(I am a very driven person, and this feels like it is my fault?) I was feeling embarrassed..

So many worries….I’d been dealt a giant bowl of lemons!

Then a thought occurred to me. I could use this time for me! I got out a pad of lined paper (I am an incredible list-maker!), and began to set goals. Short-term goals (wash all the windows inside and out.), and longer term goals (make new drapes for our kitchen)), and physical goals (finally get into the best shape of my life), and couple goals (go for a picnic with my husband every weekend), and neat-freak goals (clean out every cabinet), and finish the list of ‘someday’ projects. 

Things were looking clearer after my lists took shape. I have been able to tackle most of life’s problems through list-making. More on that later, see ‘Making a List and Checking it Twice’.

I made the decision that I would make this my best summer/fall by becoming my best self. I had put so many things off while I was busy with my career. Now I finally had the time I’d longed to find. I intended to make lemonade out of my big bowl of lemons!

Are you in a similar situation? Have you been furloughed, laid off, let go….?

How are you handling it?

I would love to share a variety of things I am doing with you.

• Projects I am working on….. 

• Cooking & Baking I am exploring…. 

• Cleaning & Organizing I am tackling….

• How I am navigating my job hunting…

• Exercise ideas that do not involve going to a gym…

• Gardening fun

• Helping others…..

• Inspirations….

• Creating a schedule and plan to get back to feeling accomplished..

• Friday Happy Hour with Lee….

I’d love to share the things I am doing to find my next chapter, rediscover things I love doing, find new interests, and find time for quiet reflection on where to go next.

Join me as I turn being laid-off (lemons) into a big pitcher of lemonade!

I recommend you begin by starting ‘Your List’. Think about the immediate things you want to do. Give yourself some easy wins like clean the oven, organize the ‘junk drawer’, dust the whole house! Then make a long-term list with bigger things like paint the bedroom, deep clean the bathroom grout, plant herbs.

When you quiet yourself long enough to make these lists you will find yourself adding and adding items. This is great!!