This whole economy crashing thing has me down. The number of friends and family I have unemployed, about to be unemployed, or worried about soon being unemployed (...and I can count myself in the latter group) is down-right frightening. I've never been one to deal with uncertainty well, and these are very cloudy and uncertain times.
So maybe it's time for a little exercise in optimism. I'll start with saying a crappy thing and follow up by finding a silver lining.
Ready?
Let's go.
Womp-wah #1: I've only been working for SF Planning for a little over a year and I'm about to go through a third round of layoffs.
Silver Lining: I've survived two-rounds of layoffs and have gotten a lot of good work done through it all, and occasionally, I get to ride a cable car up and down the hills of San Francisco to and from meetings. Yes, you should be jealous.
Womp-wah #2: If I do not lose my job in February's round of layoffs - I could very well lose it in summer by simply having my grant-funded position eliminated when our funding runs out.
Silver Lining: If this happens, one word. VACATION. Then serious job hunting. But first, god dammit I'm going to go to Australia or Spain.
Womp-wah #3: One of my closest friends in the City and best friend at work is moving back home to Minnesota.
Silver Lining: I now have at least two fantastic women with names starting in "L" who I can look forward to visiting in Minneapolis. And while nobody can replace Lisa, and later Morgan and Phil this summer - I have quite a few wonderful friends who have moved back to the Bay recently to help fill the voids.
Womp-wah #4: My brother was passed over for a job at the UC Davis Athletic Department that was PERFECT for him - so now, with no income, he is moving back into my parents house.
Silver Lining: Chris won't get trapped in the Davis bubble, and he's too talented to not find a job somewhere soon, til then, maybe I'll get to see him more. And my aunt and uncle get a baby sitter for our little cousins that live next door.
Womp-wah #5: My mom's company is being "reorganizing" - which means her job security is in question.
Silver Lining: Sorry, can't think of one here. Here's hoping the reorganization does not affect her position.
Womp-wah #6: Bell Market, my neighborhood grocery store, is closing and will be replaced by a Whole Foods (Whole Paycheck) but not for six months.
Silver Lining: Shopping at the Castro Safeway is more fun anyway?
Womp-wah #7: President Obama sure seems to be having a rough time finding cabinet members who have paid their taxes.
Silver Lining: President. Obama.
Womp-wah #8: Cal has lost 4 of its 5 last men's basketball games - after starting hot against some really great opponents and Cal football is sooo many months away.
Silver Lining: Men's basketball can still turn around. Cal women's basketball is ranked #3 in the country. Football will be back before we know it and ....I can feel it...we're going to the Rose Bowl this year. (how's that for optomism?)
Womp-wah #9: It's been seven months since I lost one of the most important people in my life, and a day doesn't go by when I do not think about him.
Silver Lining: Not so much a silver lining because there's no correlation: but, it's been six months since I met someone very special to my life and a day doesn't go by that I'm not thankful to have met him.
Womp-wah #10: The weather is all f-ed up. It has barely rained all winter and things don't look to be getting too much better. Droughts suck. Global warming seems more real and scary than ever.
Silver Lining: Can't worry about what you can't control...so let's enjoy the sun and eat more ice cream. Then go to the gym to work off the ice cream. Then eat more ice cream after the gym!
...hmm, I think that last silver lining should be my new mantra.