New home; new ambience
In my last post, I lamented the fact that the elapsed time between entries has grown longer and longer. I also vowed to do better. Obviously, I have not adhered to my promise. Why not? Well, for one thing, the job hunting process is diverting a LOT of my time and attention. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating, "Looking for a job is harder work than actually working." Why is this so? You have to be "on" ALL the time. When you’re out there selling yourself, you can’t afford to have any bad days. You can’t dress a little more informally; you can’t be too tired to engage in idle chit-chat; you can’t not smile; you can’t grouse and complain when people don’t return your phone calls and emails. You can’t do any of those things because unless you’re confining your complaining to your family, you never know whether what you’re saying will get around to the wrong person. In this environment (hell, in any environment), it seems that the degree of separation grows continually smaller. It used to be six degrees. I read yesterday that the separation number is now reduced to four. Word travels faster today than it did even five short years ago. And once it hits the Internet, it NEVER dies. A careless remark, made in the heat of the moment, can come back to bite you in the butt years down the road. It’s a scary thought. So one has to be upbeat, pleasant, and engaged at all times, and that is TIRING work. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
I’m still working out; still training for my upcoming triathlon, so in that respect, I’m good. I’m just not as consistent about visiting this site and updating my blog and visiting with my bodybuilding brothers and sisters. I’m not certain my absence has been missed, but just in case it has, my heartfelt apologies to one and all. I will try (notice that this time, I did not say ‘promise’) to do better. Given my circumstances, that is all I can do at the moment.
Keep lifting the heavy iron. It’s good for the muscles and it’s good for the soul.
October 22, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Best wishes. I’ve been through the unemployement grind 4 times in my career. NOT fun, and it eventually led to a career change. Looking for work is definitely emotiionally exhausting. On top of the financial, family & self-identity stress that come with unemployment.
I hope things break for you soon.