One year later.
A year ago, my day started off normal. Kind of fun. I was asked to pull numbers for a potential advertiser. I remember who was in the newsroom at the time, and then my friend showed up to give me a movie my husband needed for a class. I had a lunch run planned with my boss, who then canceled our lunch run because she wasn’t feeling it. (Little did I know she knew about impending layoffs – she just didn’t know that I was going to be laid off.)
I returned to my desk to a voicemail, and a few minutes later, my world shifted.
Fifteen years at one employer and then suddenly unemployed.
And I’m here to tell all of my friends – and anyone who has been devastated shocked to the core by news such as this….it is not the end of the world. Sometimes there are better opportunities, and this is just how life works. And it eventually gets easier to comprehend.
(I even found a friend’s blog post from that day. It was crazy seeing my name, my photo on someone’s blog!)
I spent four months trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. What did I really want to do when I grew up? I also spent months feeling like I was having some out of body experience.
One year later, I’m working for my alma mater. I work with people who are very open and honest about our state of affairs. (My coworkers were always open and honest. It was the higher-ups in the company who were not.) I work in a much more positive environment. I believe in the organization I work for. (I believed in the newspaper, too. They just didn’t believe in me.)
My colleagues that lost their jobs that day have found different positions. Not one of us got another newspaper job. Several have started their own businesses (or expanded their businesses.) One of us works part-time as an usher with the local minor league baseball team, and freelances as well. Another has moved into the world of marketing. One of my friends has taken his photography full-time for himself. And I know a few friends who will be unemployed at the end of this month, and they’re also trying to figure out next steps.
It’s mind-boggling, really.
I’ve been angry and sad and depressed and relieved and happy. I’ve felt so many emotions this past year. And a few weeks ago, I started feeling like I was returning to myself. Maybe even a better version of myself.
I’m angry that my time was wasted with so much insurance nonsense for over four months. I felt thankful that I had an outplacement agency working for me for a full month. (You better believe I took full advantage of that service.) I was devastated to leave behind my newsroom family. In my time in the newsroom I graduated from college, ended an engagement, met my husband (dated, got engaged and planned a wedding), bought a house, had a baby. At one point, people feared I was actually going to have a baby in that newsroom. (I worked days past my due date.)
I met amazing people in WNC through working at the newspaper and I covered some of the best events. From high school football games to concerts to presidential visits – I was there. I even edited video from a closet in the Civic Center once at around 2 or 3 a.m. All because I believed in the mission.
I still believe in the mission of the newspaper. It’s just a shame how things have turned out.
I also believe in the mission of my new employer. I never would have thought that I’d be working at my college. I enjoy being at work. I love promoting the school and reminiscing with alumni about their days at MHU. One of my classmates happened to stop by yesterday and we were able to catch up some 9 or 10 years since we last saw each other.
I never thought I’d take blogging to another level, but I did (I get to write! Occasionally I get paid for it! I get really cool opportunities thrown my way!)
And my level of stress has dropped significantly. I feel different types of stress at various times, but it isn’t a constant stressful feeling.
I still miss my newsroom family, but I know it isn’t the same there either.
I’ve come a long way in one year.
I got laid off about a year and a half ago and I am still not working. We made things work budget wise, so I just stayed home.
Sometimes things happen in life that are for the better. We don’t always see it at the time it happens but eventually we do. 🙂
this is so exciting to read!! I have a ‘retirement date’ for 2017 set for when I plan to change careers, my problem is that I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up… I cannot even imagine not having the control of knowing that date!
That happened to me right after I moved to a new city and state. I worked there 3 weeks then the whole office got shut down. That was hard. Super hard.
Glad you are finally starting to feel like yourself. Sometimes it takes a while.
Sometimes it’s a blessing when things like that happened. Love that it gave you the chance to take advantage of new opportunities.
This timehop app looks so cool, I really wish that my android could have it! I enjoyed seeing your post.
sounds like things turned out pretty good. a lay off is such a blow to the psyche.
As the saying goes… Sometimes it takes one door closing to let another door open… I am glad all worked out well for you.
I am glad that everything worked out for the better for you and that you are in a more positive environment. That alone can make all the difference when it comes to stress in life. I hope your job with your alma mater continues to go well.
I so proud of you coming so far! Congrats on your better year and your stress level!
When my brothers and I were all in college, my father was laid off from his job of almost 30 years. It’s the main reason my husband and I both started our own businesses instead of depending on others. 🙁
Great post. When one door closes, another opens. We have to remember that at all times. Don’t get down, just get going.
It is a hard thing to lose a job, especially one where you have been for a long term. I am glad after the 4 month break, you were able to land on your feet.
Lay offs are so hard. Sorry you had to go through that.
I have lived through the lay off too. 🙂 I found my true path that I wouldn’t have even tried had I not been laid off. 🙂 Things have a way of working out in the end
I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason! It might not make sense at the time, but someday you will see it was all for the best! I’m glad you now work at a place you love, and thanks for sharing your story!
It’s so frustrating to have to make such a big change. It sounds like you ended up in good situation, though!
It is great you work in a good place now. My hubby got laid off 2 years ago and it was a first for him. He found another and is quite happy there.
Change and uncertainty is always hard and frustrating. I was always told when one door closes…….. for the most part, I think that holds true for everyone. I do know a few people who haven’t been so lucky, but I also think that could be to poor choices they have made.
I sounds like things worked out for you. It is tough when things happen that you can’t control. It took my husband a year to find a new job after he was laid off. After 20 years they sent his job to China.
I knew you were laid off a year ago, but I didn’t know it was from a newspaper. That breaks my heart! My husband actually works for a local paper.
It’s great all of the changes you have experienced. I love your positive attitude!
I’m so glad that you’ve adjusted to the change and it all feels better to you now. I’m happy for you!
so sorry about your layoff. Sometimes the best things come when we didn’t want them too!
Wow, I can’t imagine working for some place for 15 years and then waking up one day to nothing. I’m glad you bounced back though.
I am thrilled that things worked out for you and you love your new job. it would be so stressful to have to go back to looking for work.
Things happen for a reason! Closed doors also means that new doors will open. Glad to see that you are so positive!
I try to remember that “everything happens for a reason”. I always say it weeks, months or maybe years later “wow this ____ didn’t happen, ____ wouldn’t be happening!” It’s so crazy
I have written in the past about how losing my job was a huge blessing in disguise. It usually doesn’t feel that way when it happens but it really can be the best thing to happen!
Change is scary to say the least. But I’m glad to see that you have found your way! Being at a company for that long can be difficult if it changes!
Sometimes, we need those ‘low moments’ in our lives to appreciate the ‘great moments’…and to truly see what we are capable of.
Sometimes life happens. Wonder stories you have!
Sometimes it is hard at the time to figure out why things like that happen to you, but I believe everything does happen for a reason. It is those hard times that help us appreciate the good times even more.
My husband and I worked for the same company for more than 5 years and were both laid off at the same time a little over 4 years ago. It was such a tough time for us both, but our son was just a baby and we were able to spend some quality time with him as well as our older daughter. Looking back now it was such a blessing as my husband was able to change career direction and now truly does something he enjoys! Thanks for sharing your story! Stopping by from the #ThrowbackhursdayLinkup
Thanks for sharing your story. I was laid off in June and it took me a while to get back to myself. I am grateful for the experience though. It’s encouraging to see your progress one year later. I’m glad to hear it sounds like you’re in a much better situation for you!