Why does unemployment seem to bring out the best in people?
I ask this question because of the following experience:
It was the day after Christmas. Instead of the normal euphoria people feel during the holidays, I felt blue. The past year and a half, I experienced a whirlwind of adventures, made new friends, and visited amazing sites. Prompted by a layoff, I embarked on a summer of volunteering in Chile, four months of teaching children via leading hikes in the pristine trails of Shasta County, and another summer working in one of the most beautiful places on our planet, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Now I had returned to the uber-urban metropolis known as Orange County and the less exciting prospect of hunting for a “serious” job. On top of the uninspiring economy, I had just learned of some dark family drama of which I will not reveal the details.
Determined to lift my spirits, I cycled out to Huntington Beach. With the sky a brilliant blue, the sun shining, my body healthy and well, I knew that I had much to be grateful for. I parked my bike under the lifeguard station and proceeded to jog along the beach. I gazed at the faces of people that I passed by. Everyone appeared to be with family, friends, loved ones. I observed one man who, solo, jogged past me with the smile of a man completely at peace with the world. He was older (mid-50s), but wiry, and very fit for his age. I caught up to him, and said hello. I felt his peace, calm, and joy with himself and life could be transmitted to me merely through conversation. The funny thing was, it did.
I mentioned how beautiful the day was, and how lucky we were to be here enjoying the simple pleasures of life: good health, sunshine, and the beauty of the ocean. He agreed, and proceeded to tell me how he had been a golf instructor, but due to the slow economy, had been laid off last year. He didn’t have a college education, and didn’t have savings. But he did have a family, who opened their doors to him so that he could save on rent. “God takes care of us,” he said. Because he now lives with his aging parents, he is able to spend more time with them and assist them in their old age. He described how his 90-year old mother, with tears streaming down her face, hugged him in gratitude for being home to care for her. His older brother, who owned two homes but had no wife or children, promised him an open door to his home where they could live together, grow old together, and spend the days fishing. I gave this man a hug, and thanked him for inspiring me. He, in turn, thanked me for the hug and for helping him feel better about his day.
Too often in our pursuit of a career, money, or status, we miss out on the more important aspects of life. Spending time with loved ones. Extending a helping hand or hug to a stranger or someone in need. Slowing down enough to simply breath the fresh air, hear the crash of ocean waves, and enjoy the simple pleasures of our senses. In the case of this man, being unemployed had brought him closer to his family. Since being laid off from my demanding scientist profession, I’ve had many more moments like this, in which I was able to truly connect and engage with my surroundings and fellow human beings. Not to say that I was idle and not working since losing my corporate job. My new work pursuits, while low-paid, were much more fulfilling and gave me time to slow down enough to truly connect with the world. No more glazed eyes from the routine of a 9-to-5 job, after which I returned home tired. No more mind spinning over office politics even after I'd left work. Being laid off was, in fact, a blessing because it brought out the best in me: the desire to connect and give back to my community and environment.
I ask this question because of the following experience:
It was the day after Christmas. Instead of the normal euphoria people feel during the holidays, I felt blue. The past year and a half, I experienced a whirlwind of adventures, made new friends, and visited amazing sites. Prompted by a layoff, I embarked on a summer of volunteering in Chile, four months of teaching children via leading hikes in the pristine trails of Shasta County, and another summer working in one of the most beautiful places on our planet, Prince William Sound, Alaska. Now I had returned to the uber-urban metropolis known as Orange County and the less exciting prospect of hunting for a “serious” job. On top of the uninspiring economy, I had just learned of some dark family drama of which I will not reveal the details.
Determined to lift my spirits, I cycled out to Huntington Beach. With the sky a brilliant blue, the sun shining, my body healthy and well, I knew that I had much to be grateful for. I parked my bike under the lifeguard station and proceeded to jog along the beach. I gazed at the faces of people that I passed by. Everyone appeared to be with family, friends, loved ones. I observed one man who, solo, jogged past me with the smile of a man completely at peace with the world. He was older (mid-50s), but wiry, and very fit for his age. I caught up to him, and said hello. I felt his peace, calm, and joy with himself and life could be transmitted to me merely through conversation. The funny thing was, it did.
I mentioned how beautiful the day was, and how lucky we were to be here enjoying the simple pleasures of life: good health, sunshine, and the beauty of the ocean. He agreed, and proceeded to tell me how he had been a golf instructor, but due to the slow economy, had been laid off last year. He didn’t have a college education, and didn’t have savings. But he did have a family, who opened their doors to him so that he could save on rent. “God takes care of us,” he said. Because he now lives with his aging parents, he is able to spend more time with them and assist them in their old age. He described how his 90-year old mother, with tears streaming down her face, hugged him in gratitude for being home to care for her. His older brother, who owned two homes but had no wife or children, promised him an open door to his home where they could live together, grow old together, and spend the days fishing. I gave this man a hug, and thanked him for inspiring me. He, in turn, thanked me for the hug and for helping him feel better about his day.
Too often in our pursuit of a career, money, or status, we miss out on the more important aspects of life. Spending time with loved ones. Extending a helping hand or hug to a stranger or someone in need. Slowing down enough to simply breath the fresh air, hear the crash of ocean waves, and enjoy the simple pleasures of our senses. In the case of this man, being unemployed had brought him closer to his family. Since being laid off from my demanding scientist profession, I’ve had many more moments like this, in which I was able to truly connect and engage with my surroundings and fellow human beings. Not to say that I was idle and not working since losing my corporate job. My new work pursuits, while low-paid, were much more fulfilling and gave me time to slow down enough to truly connect with the world. No more glazed eyes from the routine of a 9-to-5 job, after which I returned home tired. No more mind spinning over office politics even after I'd left work. Being laid off was, in fact, a blessing because it brought out the best in me: the desire to connect and give back to my community and environment.
