I've been unemployed for over a year now. I worked in retail for almost three years and lost my job right before Christmas in 2014.
I lost my job because an accident occurred and my manager was sent to the hospital and was recovering in physical therapy. A new manager from a different store took her place and fired a lot of people, like me, who had worked there for a long time and were doing there jobs well. She was making room for employees from her store to come and work.
Yeah, I know, total bullshit.
I looked for a job for a few months, but otherwise was surviving quite well. I had money saved up and lived off of that for nearly an entire year.
Which is why I was kind of happy I wasn't working,
I was going to school full time, but had summers and winters off, as well as weekends, to do anything I wanted.
I know how it can be really tough to be without a job. I know it can feel even worse after you've gotten your degree, and that's an emotion I hope to never come to realize. There is an opportunity, though, for you to seize the time you now have to get some shit done.
I am a writer. I've been writing poetry since grade school and even dabble in short stories and screenplays. I also love photography.
Sure, I was really upset when I lost my job, I may even had cried. But I bounced back. I went to winter classes so that I was staying busy, I planned my trip to Europe and I wrote as often as I could.
I was lucky enough to have money to live off of, and that's the most important thing: to make sure you have money for the important bills.
-Rent
-Phone
-Car
-Insurance/Medical
Everything else can go by the wayside. Netflix? Borrow a friend's password, and you're gonna wanna do this, you're unemployed and Netflix is now a very big part of your life now (as if it wasn't before pft!)
Forget Hulu and any other magazine or t.v. show/film subscription you may have. It might even be worth it to nix your gym membership. You now have time to go hiking, to swim in the ocean, to walk everywhere and exercise in the comfort of your own home, in your sports bra and undies while blasting Beyonce, or the Wicked soundtrack, whatever floats your boat.
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| Rome, Italy |
And travel. Travel as often as you can. It might take some of your extra cash, but it's more than worth it. Rent out your home on AirBnb to make up the difference of what you're spending, especially if you live in a desirable destination like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Portland or Austin.
I did a lot of driving while unemployed.
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| Baja, Mexico |
Road trips are my favorite part of having a completely wide open weekend. I also love driving and have a car with fucking amazing gas mileage. I drove up to San Pedro to go to a Morrissey concert last summer and stayed a day or two just exploring the city and the infamous haunted Winchester Mansion.
There is an emotional devastation that comes with being unemployed though. For me, that was the worst of it. I had a friend who worked for her uncle and was making pretty decent money. I had another friend who was working for a fashion up-start in San Francisco making pretty damn good money. But I also had another friend who was unemployed like me. Or, actually, he worked in retail, which is practically the same thing. Think about it.
We had a lot of time to do anything we wanted and we developed a pretty awesome ritual that to this day is what we prefer to clubbing any day of the week:
-wine/craft beer
-warn bed
-Twilight Zone
It is really hard to look around you and see people living what is conventionally viewed as "successful" and you feel a bit like a slacker because you are not generating an income. According to Trading Economics the unemployment rate raised by .1% in just a month this year, and is expected to rise even more by 2017. Don't feel that you're the only one out there without a job, but perhaps you could be the one who takes this as an opportunity to do something amazing. Move to a foreign country, devote all of your time to honing in on a talent or hobby, turn that hobby or talent into your career, volunteer at hospitals, animal shelters and homeless shelters. Network your ass off. Consider moving to a different city or state that can accommodate your occupational needs.
Find something to be passionate about and pursue it with all of your heart.
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| in Logrono, Spain where my ancestors are from |
If you are in your 20's, trust me, your're not the only one who is still figuring shit out, and working towards something better. Just remember, if things go "according to plan" or "as they should", you're not going to have an opportunity like this again. You get to be the ultimate slacker and "fins yourself" or un-find yourself. Disconnect from social media for a bit, try meditating or yoga, or just going to cool long walks around the park.
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| Find Body Confidence in Barcelona (where even 80 y/o's wear bikinis) |
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| Drinking in the tub? Why the hell not. |
Take this time to discover something new about yourself, in the end everything will work out.
You do have to have a plan though. Be the ultimate slacker, but one who still has an ultimate goal.
Whether that be to find a job, or pursue a passion, what-the-fuck-ever it may be.
Try interning at a cool company you like.
HAVE A PLAN.
Budget your money to see how long you can survive without a paycheck.
And for those of you who just quit a job to pursue something greater: Congrats Bitchez!!
Just remember this, and this is something I still struggle with every dam day,
You Are Worthy.
Don't think that just because your lifestyle does not fit society's standards that you are less deserving of happiness than anyone else. You are loved.
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R
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| Treating my baby sis to her first concert ever !! |
