Have you ever met somebody who is always positive, always looking on “the bright side,” always able to point out the silver lining (What the heck is silver lining anyway? The closest thing to silver lining I can think of is the silky, shiny lining on the inside of a casket, and let’s face it, that’s not a very positive thing to think about at all.), and who never seems to admit that anything about any situation could ever, possibly be even slightly less than perfect? Sure you’ve met someone like that. We all have. The real question is whether or not you managed to keep from hitting them and saying, "Yo! Look on the bright side of that!"
Those of you who know me well know that I tend to be more of… a realist. That is, of course, the best way to be. (I say that only slightly tongue in cheek and with only a little sarcasm.) With my endless free time, though, I've been watching the slick, smiling Joel Osteen on TV, and I’ve decided that I need to start trying to live My Best Life Now. That undoubtedly has to start with being a little more positive. With that in mind, I’ve come up with a very positive list.
The Top Nine Benefits of Being Unemployed
(Because I couldn’t think of 10)
9. It’s like having unlimited vacation… though it is unlimited UNPAID vacation. Minor detail.
8. I don’t contribute to the statistics showing the loss of productivity during March Madness.
7. Instead of freaking out and frantically fretting, “How can I manage to get everything done today?” I can ask, “How can I manage to find something to get done today?”
6. Two words: Online Gaming.
5. Two more words: Daytime Television! Ummm… maybe not.
4. Knowing when my wife leaves for work at 7:30 that I can sleep till noon and nobody will even know. Seriously, I don’t sleep till noon… but I COULD.
3. I pay less taxes.
2. Shower? What shower?
1. It helps me appreciate the blessings of having a good, honest, meaningful job, even when it is difficult or frustrating.
Have you ever been sans paycheck? What positive(s) did you find in it?
4 comments:
Sans paycheck? No. Stuck in a job I hated just because the money was there? Yes. Makes me more and more thankful every day I had the guts to completely say adios to all the money I spent on schooling for the the job I had and am now loving the job I have now. You're right. It's positive, and it will make you thankful! Hard to remember, but true!!
Yes. Almost 2 years ago we went 6 months without a paycheck and it was scary!! But I did learn some positive things.
1. You will not die. You feel like you might, but you don't. So, stop freaking out.
2. God is still there. I think Christians have started equating God's presence with money. If there money isn't there, then where is God? He's still there. You are still breathing. You have what you need. You have all that you need. The rest will come at the right time.
3. Don't forget to have fun. You can get so caught up in what you don't have that you forget what you do have. You can still laugh and smile and share an amazing life with your wife. Nothing is keeping you from those things.
4. Pray and journal if you can. Even if it's painful, don't stop chronicalling what you are going through. I didn't journal, hardly any and I wonder now what I was really learning. I only have shady memories, where as, if I had written things down, I could know what was going on in my heart.
5. You are not less than human if you don't carry health insurance. I remember the first time that I went to the doctor and I had to whisper "no" when they asked if I carried health insurance. I felt awful. I felt like I was an evil parent, not protecting her children with insurance, but after praying and thinking and hashing it out, I really understood that it had nothing to do with my worth. It was just where we were in that stage of life.
Blessings on you. I know it's hard but I promise that it won't last forever.
Judy
Thanks for the awesome comments, Judy! This blog has been in a laziness/busyness induced coma for quite a while now (though I've been thinking about doing some posting again), so it's nice to have a little activity. Oh, and by the way, your comments rock!
Since I haven't posted any updates, I'll do that here for now. Since about March I've been driving back and forth from Evansville to Fairfield and working with my parents on their farm. It's sort of a "see how it goes and if it's something I want to do long-term" sort of thing. So, with that said, I've been constantly weighing options and trying to figure out what I feel like God's plan is--moving home, doing full-time ministry somewhere, joining the circus, etc. At any rate, it has been a journey! If only I'd been able to read your comments a few months ago!
Thanks again for commenting and sharing the wisdom you learned from your own experience. Experience can be a mean, demanding teacher sometimes, but she's often the best one around, too.
Lol!! Join the circus! Do it! After all we went through, we were ready to do something wild ;o)
The hardest part is not really knowing what God is up to, which makes your heart sore and your mind crazy! But, you will be okay. And, God will lead you, right where He wants you. Even if you have no idea where or why. Praying for you and your family. All will be well.
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