Wasted Time

I went out with my parents to get dinner today. These little meals have occurred every Sunday since I was laid off.  I think we all appreciate seeing each other more and eating some good food, so it all works out. While we were talking, I mentioned that the really promising job interview that I had turned out to be nothing because they had hired another candidate. Upon hearing this, my mother adamantly suggested I go back to school in Fall because six months had passed since I was laid off, and that I was just wasting time.

I thought a bit about what she said, and I have some serious doubts that more education is what I need considering my current degree hasn’t helped me at all in the job search (real world experience and networking is more important than education by a long shot). But the part that really got me was the idea that I was just wasting time.

Don’t get me wrong…unemployment isn’t great . I’m tired of looking for jobs, scraping by on the meager UC pay, spending most of my time alone, and watching the time drift by on the calendar. Unemployment is a humbling experience and one filled with potential for introspection (but I’ll save those thoughts for another day).

But life is about both the good and the bad. I’ve also had a number of good experiences with the free time I’ve been given in between looking and applying for work. During my six month stint on unemployment I’ve:

• Rode my bicycle 30 miles to Valley Forge and 24 miles to Northwestern Ave (northwestern border of Philly) and back on the Wissahickon Trail and Forbidden Drive.
• Played soccer and kickball with a bunch of 20 somethings and neighborhood kids at a park that we’re helping revitalize (clean, paint, etc.).
• Visited my friend Doug in NYC a few times and got to explore a cool new part of the world for me. (By the way, Clue is one of the best board games to play while intoxicated)
• Planned and finally built a new computer so I don’t have to put up with my inferior laptop anymore.
• Started blogging and twittering. Writing is fun again!
• and much, much more…

I’m trying to make the best out of a bad situation and have some fun in meantime. In the end, life isn’t just about work. Stop and smell the roses because all things must pass.