Losing a job can have positives

We may have to look for those positives, but they can be there.

Positive: The opportunity to have a snow without the snow or take a sick day without being sick — or faking it.

Seems like a small thing, but if you have felt the need to fake a sick day, then you know how important they really are to your well being.

I have to wonder if they are more prevalent in the United States than in European countries since many European countries get 5 weeks or more vacation time a year. It would appear the importance of down time is known over there.

Here many of us do not even take our mandated breaks or we work and have lunch at the same time — if we eat at all. Now, the reason those breaks are required by law to be offered is that they have been proven as needed. Our bodies and minds need a break to work efficiently. But we get caught up in our work, in impressing the boss, or in just trying to get enough done to go home on time since we have too much to do in a day — and if we take breaks we can’t get enough done. I won’t even talk about the people who don’t take a vacation at all because they are too busy at work.

So, maybe when we lose a job we could try to push away the panic at least for a day and take a snow day, chances are we deserve it, our body deserves it. Then we can push on for a new job.

Positive: The opportunity to assess what we want in life:

Is there a dream you have always wanted to achieve? Perhaps there is another job you have wanted to try that wouldn’t be quite as miserable or just a different company that you have wanted to apply to?

Are you content living in the climate you are? We weren’t. Have you wanted to move closer to relatives — or even much farther away? We don’t all want to live close.

Would you prefer two part time jobs that you like rather than one full time job? Some people have found that works for them.

Are you ready to go back to school or switch to a part time job and attend school part time?

I look at losing a job as gaining an opportunity to reevaluate my goals, my life. Have you thought of it that way?