I was listening to public radio. They were discussing the impact of this “down economy” on individuals. One women called in to say she had been laid off. She had been working 24/7 juggling kids, house and work. She had been dealing with cell phones and emails and was constantly on call.
She said that after loosing her job, everything stopped. She felt dead.
In our society, when someone asks who you are we usually respond by telling them what we do. When you loose your job you loose your identity. On this river of life, it is important to know the difference between you and your boat.
When your boat sinks, swim for shore, build another boat and continue your journey. Take time to rest and relax then climb to a high point. Survey the river, check out where you’ve been and then decide where you are going and cast off.
Be sure you can tell people who you are and what you do. Don’t make a book out of it. Tell them in 30 seconds. Since I retired 20 years ago, I’ve been on my own. I tell people I’m a forester, a conservationist and a story teller. If they want to know more, I’m a photographer, videographer and writer. In my work, I try to help people understand each other and their relationship to our environment.
I know who I am and what I am trying to accomplish. The water may be cold and getting dumped out of your boat can be a shock. Don't drown. Don’t let loosing a job take you identity. Set your course for a higher goal. You may even find you enjoy captaining you own ship.
Bill
http://web.me.com/kumuwaiwai
Monday, February 9, 2009
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