Thank you, everyone, for your comments on yesterday’s post. After rereading it, I realized I sounded a twee spoiled, and many of the things you had to say were things I needed to hear.
Because I was in a horrible mood when I wrote that post, I wanted to come back and reiterate that I really am grateful to have a decent-paying job. I have several friends, including several of my Modern Friends, who have been going through layoffs and trying to find new jobs, and I understand how awful it really is. I don’t WANT to lose my job by any means, but if I do, I don’t plan to be bitter about it. I prefer to leave my job on my own terms with something else lined up. I realize that’s not realistic right now considering our economy is going from bad to worse.
I’m taking a page from the blog of my dear friend Currer Bell, who’s been dealing with some of the exact same emotions about her job as I have with mine. She found inspiration in a doughnut. A Dunkin’ Donut, to be exact, which you all know to be The Modern Gal’s weakness.
I’ve got it pretty good right now, so I’m going to stop complaining about my job. I’m going to prepare for the worst (getting laid off and not being able to find a job afterwards), hope for the best (the economy does a complete 180 tomorrow) and in the meantime realize that it’s pretty dang good to be The Modern Gal.
On the contrary; I’d say your last post was quite mature and well thought-out. I think that because so many people are losing their jobs, people who still have jobs are feeling guilty about being unhappy at work. There’s some merit to that — nothing like being faced with unemployment to make you appreciate what you have — but just because you’re lucky enough to have a job doesn’t mean you have to be all happy smiley rainbows and sunshine about it all the time. You still have the right to complain.
I think your last post described what it’s like to be in a stressful job really well. You don’t want to not have a job, but it would be a certain relief not to have to worry so constantly. At least, that’s what I got out of it.
Just as I was in the middle of reading your post we got a company wide email from the president which basically read “hey, we are doing ok and don’t expect to have layoffs, but hell, you never know.”
This country is so screwed.
I didn’t think that last post was whiny at all. You’re clearly thinking things through, and that is good.
I always want to go in Dunkin Donuts, but I never do. Oh, that sounds so good right now.
I don’t think you were a spoiled brat at all. you were being honest, no need to apologize for that.
I read your post, and it didn’t confront me. I’ve got a bit of a rocky position here at work, and my feelings about it keep changing. I’m sort of looking for something new, and I’m sort of worried about it and sort of not.
Thanks for the shout out, MG!
Keep your chin up. As unhappy as I am at work right now, I also like making a decent living. I try to focus on the little things and not on the 8-plus hours I spend working every day. The doughnuts is just one example. Be sure to take care of yourself. Get pedicures. Read fun books. Write for fun. Watch stupid movies. Go out with friends you haven’t seen in a long time.
And don’t forget that you are very, very loved no matter what.