Sanity Maintenance

A lot of us have been downsized in 2009. So far, it’s been a challenging year for many people. And that’s the way we should look at it: as a challenge. We did nothing wrong. We did not deserve to be downsized, but we were. Perhaps the Universe is giving us a life lesson. Perhaps we were ready to move on from a job we’d held onto far too long. Whatever the reason, we were (or are) out of work.

This entry is about what to do while waiting for responses to applications and interviews. It’s called Sanity Maintenance, a term a few of you might remember from the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. It’s what we do to maintain our sanity through trying times.

I’m a crafter and decorating wooden cigar boxes has become my Sanity Maintenance. I’m learning wood burning (pyrography) and other crafty techniques in the process. There’s a vague idea of selling the boxes—perhaps on consignment—but the main reason for doing it is to keep an even keel.

A friend of mine started writing some fiction for an on-line fan site. As positive reviews came in, several people suggested turning the fan fiction into mainstream. This went from Sanity Maintenance to a full-blown project.
After the initial “Oh my God, I’m unemployed!” shock wears off, it’s time to regroup. Get a game plan for your job hunt. And then pick something as your Sanity Maintenance. You can’t look for a job 24/7. Take time for yourself. Who knows where that hobby can lead!