The Rainy Day You Hope Never Comes

I got laid off from a job I loved. There was no warning, I was completely surprised and...I'm surviving. Sure, it's been hard for me to share the news. I feel that I've disappointed people and myself somehow. Did I enjoy crying in front of co-workers as I said goodbye? No, not really. Did I like having to file for unemployment? Not at all. You can be sure, there are a lot of negatives. Especially for someone who a little over a year ago, spent almost 8 months looking for this job, but I wouldn't be writing this blog if I didn't have some good news, or at least something constructive to add to the conversation. No, I haven't found a new perfect job yet. I've been applying for some contract jobs but it's definitely a tough market. But I wanted to write this because I realize I am not the only one out there who is facing this now. Not by a long shot. And no matter how much I search for a reason--something that I did wrong, or how I could have avoided this, the fact of the matter is--I couldn't. As with many painfully harsh things in life, this was about the money and the bottom line. So, here's what I'm learning and how I'm coping:

-You've still got to schedule and compartmentalize life a bit--give yourself the freedom to have fun and get out of the house while job-hunting to take advantage of great opportunities, people, and resources within and around you.
-Flex your network. It sucks to tell people you lost your job, but they can't tell you about jobs they know of if you don't and many people like to help where they can. Also, what better time than now, for those professional enhancement projects, eh?
-Life is not all about work (OK, I knew this already, yes) but beyond that, life while unemployed is not only about looking for a job either. Yes, you have to put in a lot of time looking and be conscious of money, but you also need to make time for fun and personal enrichment, just like you do when you're working--it's a delicate balance, but why not take advantage of YOUR time since that's what you have?
-Talk it out. Lots of others are in the same situation of job-hunting or dealing with a lay-off, so while you do need to move-forward, stay motivated and talk to people about your search to learn how to cope.
-Get out-of-doors: Isn't that everyone's biggest wish when they are stuck in a cubical all day? Sunshine, fresh air, and greenery uplift the soul and help you keep perspective

More suggestions are welcome of course--as well as any job leads, and while keeping focused and positive isn't always easy for me personally, I do know that things will work out for the best eventually--they always do! I just need to remember that this life is an adventure in learning and that's why I love it...