The Incomparable Brenda Drake is hosting a...
Bloggers will be posting about whatever makes them thankful.
1. I am thankful for Brenda Drake, whose spirit of generosity towards unpublished/unagented writers is LEGENDARY.
2. I am grateful for being laid off exactly four years ago.
At the time it was traumatizing. As I sat in a mandatory seminar for the "dehired" I saw duplicates of my own shell-shocked face. Diligent, conscientious Lisa Simpson-type workers who'd always gotten good reviews, often put work before family and self, agonized over taking a sick day, got to work early and stayed late without pay, etc. All for what?
Being part of a "down-sizing" pushed me off the hamster wheel.
Made me think about what I'd done in my life so far and what I wanted to do with whatever is left of it. Thanks to unemployment benefits I had some time to breathe, and to try something different. Something I'd always wanted to do. Write a novel. I've now written three. Maybe some day one or more will even be published.
3. I am grateful that I finally know what I want to do when I grow up.
No matter what job titles I hold in the future, they won't define me the way they have in the past. I'm a writer now. First. Always. No matter what. And no, I don't use a vintage typewriter, but it's cool looking, isn't it?
I love this list (I'm partial to #1 though - kidding). I'm so impressed how you took something devastating and turned it into something life changing. We never know what we want until we are forced to find it. You are a true inspiration! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHaha, thought you'd like #1 ;) And talk about quotable "We never know what we want until we are forced to find it." You should be a writer...oh, wait, never mind.
DeleteRhiann,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Coming out of employment downturns can be very hard. It's a wonderful reason to be thankful, I'm so glad you found your niche. I'm sure soon you'll have a published book, you seem to be out there doing all the right things!
Hi Yolanda, I like the way you think! I'll have to check out your blog to see if you're doing the T'giving blog hop.
Deletevintage typewriters and radiohead?! we definitely could be friends!!! and this..."I'm a writer now. First. Always. No matter what." yes indeed.
ReplyDeleteWe seem to have a spooky amount in common...lol.
Deletegreat post! sounds like blessings in disguise!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! It took me a good year to get over the event.
DeleteOnce you embrace your creativity it will never leave you. Fingers crossed on getting pubbed!
ReplyDeleteTkhanks Ellie. It's funny, my creativity earlier in my life was all about visual art and if it didn't "leave" me it certainly hibernated, and came out from its long sleep in the form of writing.
DeleteDreams come by a multitude of business, so never quit. One day, your dream will be realized:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ink in the Book. Looking forward to that day.
DeleteI'm loving these Thanksgiving posts! (And that typewriter is the coolest thing ever.) :)
ReplyDeleteI'm quite fond of vintage stuff. If inanimate objects could tell stories...
DeleteWhat a wonderful, positive post! I, too, was laid off years ago, and while I loved my job and still miss it, in a way it has been such a positive experience because, like you, I have had an opportunity to focus on my writing. Sometimes we need those big shake-ups in order to turn our lives in the directions they need to go. Happy writing!
ReplyDeleteI find I miss the social interaction more than my actual job. Maybe that's why Twitter is so appealing... Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteMe too! It was nice to have colleagues. Now Twitter is my water cooler, with blogs and Facebook supplementing.
DeleteWell, feel free to stop by one of my "cubicles" (FB,Twitter, Blog) to shoot the, uh, shoptalk, any time.
DeleteYou too! :-)
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ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the layoff four years ago, and I understand too well how that feels--but you are so talented Rhiann, and such a unique spirit for telling compelling tales. I believe writing is exactly what you're supposed to be doing and so look forward to your first published novel. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you Denise. And thank you for stopping by too. May your dragons be well-behaved today ;-)
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