How many people will take advantage of the incredible opportunity that joblessness offers?
It's cliche, but true: Often the best things in life happen after tragedy or trauma.
If you had a job you didn't enjoy but could pay the bills with; how do you quit? How do you justify that choice to people you might be supporting? "Sorry, dear, I'm going to follow a dream." If you've been fired or laid off, now is the time to re-invent yourself. You have the perfect excuse to do something else. "I got fired. I can't find a job. Now I'll do this."
Even if you are on your own, quitting a job is terrifying. Our expenses grow directly proportional to our income. In college, according to my SSA earnings statement, I made $13,421 during my senior year of college. I was damned happy then. Really, just thrilled to be alive. I waited tables 20 hours each week and attended college full-time. I could afford and had time to read all the books I wanted. Am I happier at a higher income now? Hah!
Instead of viewing joblessness as a once-or-twice-in-a-lifetime-opportunity (when else will you have so much free time?), people will whine and complain about what life has "given" them.
"Given" or "dealt" are always interesting terms. They imply that life is happening to you; rather than that you are happening to life. Life doesn't give me shit. I take from life.
Yes, traumatic things outside of our control happen. We are all a car accident or tumor away from bankruptcy. Yet those are low-probability events.
Most of what we do daily are within our control. Life doesn't "deal" you the hand of working at an unrewarding job. You are in control. If you want a more interesting job (or to work for yourself), now is the time.
Being fired might be the best thing to have ever happened to you.
