Day 100 of My Unemployment

Today marks the 100th day of my unemployment. Like President Obama’s ratings and the stock market, I feel my worth dropping as a future employee. In the past when I was laid off work, I had found great jobs within a couple of months. I never drew many unemployment benefits, which was fine with me.

I never saw myself as a type A individual, but I have learned that I am one during these past 100 days. I have to have places to be and things to do.

I am networking through volunteering in hopes that I will meet someone whose cousin knows someone who has a friend whose brother could use me as an employee. Most of all, volunteering gives me self worth, although sometimes it is just placing stamps and address labels on postcards. I feel as if I am giving back to the community that is currently supporting me.

I am meeting new people who have the same interests as I do such as the environment and grassroots democracy. I am doing more things I always wanted to do, but could not do with a full time job.

While volunteering is the positive side of being unemployed, there are negatives. We are living on less, although as a minimalist, I do not really need a lot of stuff. I find myself envious of those who have jobs, however humble. Envy is a new emotion for me. I used to be envious of people in my younger years, but I had learned in life to be appreciate of what I have, not what I do not have. None of us can have everything we want.

To me, the worst thing in the world right now is watching my retirement funds evaporate. Now that is a problem that we all have, employed or unemployed.