The One Where Sara Gets Laid Off Again

Oh, the titles I could have given this post....

Don't Cry for Me Argentina Bloggerina

On The Dole Again

I Kissed A Girl I'm on the Dole and I Like It

Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish Bosses

Breaking Up is Hard Easy To Do

Sayonara, Suckers


For those of you who don't follow me on Twitter (whatcha waitin' for, an engraved invitation?) or Facebook (friend me!) or my other blog (shame on you for not reading that too!) I got laid off on Monday. For those of you keeping count, this makes twice in less than a year.

Unlike last time, though, I am less than heartbroken about this one. In fact, calling me in any way upset by the news would be overstating things. I knew from Day 3 at this company that this was not a long term situation for me. While I didn't talk about it much here (because we all know that's a no-no in the business world) I dreaded going there every day. I fantasized on a daily basis about quitting. It literally sucked the joy right out of me. It's not my nature to be a Debbie Downer, but that's how I felt every time I walked into that place. I hated who I was when I was there.

So it was with something closely resembling elation that I graciously accepted the news of my lay-off. I'd been forewarned by an in-the-know friend on Sunday - and forewarned is forearmed. I was able to put my thoughts together before going in there and was prepared to say what needed to be said to HR before I left. It also gave me the opportunity to say good-bye to the few friends that I'd made while I was there.

Now I'm back on the government dole again, but wiser and more prepared for unemployment this time. I've learned a valuable lesson - as bad as unemployment feels, an ill-fitting job feels worse. I never should have accepted my last position. I knew it was a bad fit before I even accepted it; in fact, I struggled mightily with the decision to accept it at all. But I felt guilty for being unemployed and with no other options on the horizon, I figured I could put up with the job for the paycheck. Big mistake. One that I won't be making again.

I will also embrace this time with enthusiasm, something I didn't do the last time around. I felt so much guilt for not contributing to our checkbook that I didn't enjoy the time the way that I should have. I'm not naive enough to think that the old guilt won't resurface - it's already trying, every day when Nate comes home and asks me what I did today - but I'm trying not to let it suck the fun out of my time off. I've got a long list of things to do, people to reach out to, goals I've put off long enough. It's time to embrace this season in my life and I am walking into with open arms.