Welcome to my new blog! I'm a latecomer to this particular form of literary prostitution, but I figure if I'm really serious about establishing myself as a writer -- and I am -- then I need a presence on the 'net. Who says an old Boomer can't learn a new trick or two?
If you already know me, you know that I'm "repotting" myself -- transitioning from a conventional, full-time job to the wonderful state of being joyfully jobless. I just love that phrase! It's not original, so I can't take credit for it. But it describes how I'm approaching Life After Employment.
Notice I didn't say I'm retired. I'm still actively looking for work; it's just not the kind of work I've been doing for the last 40 years. Let's just say I'm going back to my roots -- writing. After all, my first job was writing (for my hometown newspaper). I put myself through college the same way -- writing. My first job after college was writing for another newspaper. I continued to rely on my writing skills in my PR and fundraising jobs, even though I produced grant applications and annual reports rather than news and feature stories.
And then I was laid off in December 2008. Over the next 18 months I applied for 180 fundraising jobs and came up with nuthin'. Zero. Nada. Ok, you say, cry me a river. Old news. Millions of people in same boat, blah blah. What's so special about me?
First, let me say that I believe in divine guidance. There are no accidents; everything happens for our greatest and highest good. If we're willing to listen to the still, small voice within us -- the essence of what a lot of people might call God -- we can usually find the answers we're looking for. My own M.O. is to tune into what I describe as my guardian angels, or my personal cosmic committee, for help and inspiration.
My guardian angels are a sassy bunch. I know they've always had my best interests at heart, but for those 18 months they had been mute as mummies. I had been demanding that they find me a full-time job with health benefits, and demanding that they find it now! But my heavenly hosts remained strangely silent. I was pretty fed up with their performance (or lack thereof), I'll tell you.
Well, around my birthday this year (May 6, the day I turned 62) I finally woke up and purchased a clue. I had been making so much noise hammering that square peg into that round hole that I had missed what my angels had been shouting all along: Losing my job was a blessing! I now have the time and flexibility to write again! And, moreover and just as important, the opportunity to TRAVEL! And write about my travels.
Well, DUH. Had I actually gotten a "real" job, with its stupid two-weeks-off-a-year vacation schedule (when will Americans finally rebel against this Neanderthal policy? -- Sorry, I'll get on that tangent later!), would I have been able to travel as I want? Er, ah, not "no," but "hell, no!" At my age do I have the patience, stamina, ambition or drive to work again full-time? Er, ah, same answer.
So thank you, angels, once again for covering my back and keeping my dance card FREE so I can pursue what I really want to do at this point in my life! And if I use platforms like this blog successfully enough, I'll even get paid to do it! That's the goal, in fact. Money is a very good thing. Being paid to do what you love to do: Isn't that everybody's dream?
In the next few months I'm going to be living large as I begin what I hope will be a series of trips abroad -- and I'd love for you to join me, at least in cyberspace. My feisty angels will be along for the ride. Watch this blog for details of our flight...
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