Since the year 2001, I have always been able to maintain a job.
The first job I landed was for a market research company. I am grateful for this opportunity because it helped build confidence and interpersonal skills over the phone. In December of 2002, I went to work for a theater company doing sales and marketing. For the first few years, I thoroughly enjoyed working with other staff members and collaborating on new marketing ideas for growth in sales. I also had the privilege of seeing productions for free on opening and closing nights.
In 2012, I felt a need for a change so I went to work for a non-profit organization to improve the quality of life for individuals living with disabilities.
That ended in March of 2016 when I was let go from the organization.
The increase in economic decline put enormous amount of pressure to drive more sales than I had been accustomed to achieving successfully. I have been aggressively looking for steady and permanent work since then, but I have been unsuccessful.
This is taking a tremendous toll on my life. Physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. When I was working steadily, I had a sense of purpose to get get out of bed each morning. I always had more than enough food on the table and paying the bills on time was never a problem. On my days off, I could see a movie and have dinner with family and friends. Now that I am unemployed due to on the ongoing economic crisis, I find myself staying home a lot. The activities that gave my life meaning and purpose now seem like a distant memory. Days go by at a snail's pace.
I try a new hobby like painting with cheap water colour paints and brushes to make the days go by a little quicker.
This helps the time pass, however the satisfaction of having a job and coming home at the end of the day knowing that I have completed a full day of hard work is gone. I'm lost and broken. Do I keep pounding the pavement in which now seems like a dead end of finding a job, or should I come to the resolution that I am going to be out of a job, at least until the economy bounces back?
Even financial experts cannot predict when this crisis will end. I have considered going back to to school in an effort to build my resume to increase my chances of finding work again.
However, with limited funding available and the potential risk of sinking further into debt seems risky. The probability of finding work even with a college degree is certainly much higher but there are still no guarantees. The economy shows no signs of making a turn around.
For now, I feel that best option would be to pursue volunteer work. This way, there are no holes in my resume and even though I will not have anything to gain financially, it will get me out of the house. Most importantly, I'll be able to give back to the community. A quote from poet Emily Dickinson reads: If one can lead a bird back to its nest, it will not have lived in vain.
Looking back on all that has happened, I will always be grateful for the experiences and challenges over the years. I feel this has helped me grow professionally.
Most of all I am grateful for the love and support of my family and friends who have joined in celebrating the good times and providing comfort and advice in times of disparity.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it brings comfort and inspiration for those in similar circumstances.
I am a firm believer that persistence and faith will show the way out of the darkness and back into light.
About the Creator
Janelle Ouellet
Enjoys painting abstract art.
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