Unemployed At 28

Oh, hey! It’s been a while since I got personal here and I figured now was as good a time as any for an update. Things have been … rough. As of a few days ago, I’m officially unemployed. Despite my best efforts, I find myself in a position I’ve always dreaded. The last time I was unemployed, I was 22 and fresh out of college. It was a really tough time, but I made it work, and I’m going to do the same thing now. Back then I found a lot of comfort in writing and keeping busy, so I’ve decided to take advice from my younger self and start blogging more. Optimistically I’ll write something every day, but realistically ... we’ll see. It might not be the most riveting, but it’ll be nice to remind myself why I love writing so much.

It’s hard not to reflect when shitty things happen in life. Like overanalyzing the past will somehow give me a magic key to the future. The strange thing that keeps coming back into my mind is a short story I wrote as a senior in high school. It was about a girl who graduates college and has to move back in with her parents and little sister. Even then I was terrified of failure. I wasn’t just afraid of my dreams being dashed, I was worried I wouldn’t even be able to support myself. The irony is bitter, and I wonder if this is what they call fate.

Over the past few months I've talked to friends and family and realized that similar things have happened to them. It's just something people don't really talk about. Life is unpredictable and shit happens, and it is comforting knowing I’m not the only one who’s going through it. When you’re in the thick of it like I am, it seems like the worst thing that could possibly happen. That you’re sinking so deep you might never have sold footing again, but I have to believe that it isn't true. This is just a chapter in my story.

Don’t get me wrong, I still can’t wait for this part to be over. If you want to help encourage me along the way, (please) send me your rock bottom story, or a time when you finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll also gladly accept music, television or book recommendations to keep my mind distracted when it needs to be.

As always, check back here for more. The next few weeks might get interesting.