It's been a while since I've journaled my tidying journey. It's moved beyond the mundane (yet cleansing) activities of cleaning house, tossing junk, etc. Although that certainly continues.
But now it's gotten personal.
I was laid off from my job today. Did I see it coming? Yes. Was it personal? No, there are quite a few of us being let go. Why did it happen? I can put hand on heart and say it wasn't about me or my work, which somehow makes it easier to cope. It's about the company, and its attempt to survive. They're in trouble. Its products are stale, its offerings clumsy and expensive, they're selling to customers who are looking for innovation, and they're selling into an industry that is changing profoundly and dealing with its own issues. So the marketing and sales team is being culled. Only the high rolling senior management and the younger, less expensive junior team remains.
Actually, I'm okay with it. I've long felt that I'm supposed to go elsewhere, do something else. I don't think it's a midlife crisis? Unless that's defined by feeling like I'm wasting my time and talents in ways that add little value to the world. But it gave me a nice paycheck, was close to home, and I liked many of the people that I used to work with.
I think my job now is to clean this up. Get rid of the files, refresh my network, spend some quality time thinking and praying, and wait upon the Lord for the next steps to become clearer. I don't think it's my job to be passive and lazy (tempting as that may be) but to be patient. That's not easy for me, I want to rush ahead, take control, own the outcome. Maybe downshifting a bit will keep me from blasting by things that I should be noticing.
So I'll clear away the physical, emotional, and mental messes of my last career chapter, applying the same principles. Keep only what adds value to my life. Toss what doesn't. Look at things carefully, but not stall. This is a lot like the sock drawer, but harder and more important, I wonder what I'll find in my tidy new space?
