I remember my life in my last job. I worked at least 60 hours a week (including the commute). I traveled a bit and generally wasn’t around much.
Since I lost my job I’ve had the sweet chance to renew relationships with my wife and kids.
I’ve come to appreciate “being there” and not missing those moments that define a life, build character and create memories.
Today is a special day for someone who is very special to me. And I’m taking the entire day off (I think!).
It’s easy when you are in a desparate job search to forget about the special things that make our life what it is.
I know why – losing a job is like having oxygen cut off. You can’t think of ANYTHING except getting that next breath. The world stops turning, your lungs burn, and nothing else matters.
I’ve been in that situation (diving in Puerto Rico as a young teenager), and it’s scary.
The problem with these feelings in job search is that it is not relieved in just a few seconds, when you finally swim to the top of the water. The job search can go on (and you miss important events) and on (while you miss birthdays because you are there physically but not mentally) and on (while you miss opportunities to help your kid through a life-changing experience (because their “issue” seem trivial to you)) and on (while you miss pillow talk because your relationship has been crumbling) and on…
See where I’m going with this?
Pause. Take a breath. Regroup.
And stop missing the important things with the important people. Jobs come and go, but work hard to keep those important people in your life, and a part of your life.
To my special someone who is experiencing something big today: love you!
You are a very wise man, Jason Alba. Great post.
THANK. YOU. SO. MUCH. for this post. I’ve felt chained to the computer this past week as my family has been doing other things like eat dinner, watch movies, etc.
I think it’s easy for people to say we in job search have lots of free time, so it should be no sweat for us to get stuff done. More often than not, it’s just as you’ve said.