One of those Days...

I had a "why me moment" today and then I had flashback...to my earliest days of Job Searching.

Picture this: Spring 1994 - I was working at Kmart in the Appliance Department over Spring Break from Marist College and one of the full-timers there asked me, "Aren't you worried about finding a job when you graduate?"  I answered confidently, "No, I'm not worried...I'll be fine. I have good grades, and have been very involved in the school, I'll get a job easily." 

May 1994 I graduated from Marist with a shiney new degree in Communications. Within days of receiving my diploma my car's air conditioning broke, I had my first car accident (unrelated to the air conditioner), and literally came home to my parents house to a pile of bills on my bed.  

I distinctly remember sitting in my room, looking at all the bills and crying.  My days at Kmart were over.  I had no job prospects, and no potential income.  My mom came in and told me not to worry...I'd be fine. 

I purchased the Sunday NY Times and I sent out 20 resumes  on special paper. I went to Dress Barn and bought 3 business suits.  They were about $150 each and not the best quality material. They were dark and had long sleeves.  I traveled Manhattan almost every day that HOT summer in June, July and August, in my pantyhose and sensible shoes with sweat pouring down my back.  I was miserable and was not looking foward to dinner when my parents asked me how my day went. 

I remember my BIG "why me" moment one night riding home from a disappointing interview on the ferry.  I looked at every single person and wondered why they had a job and I didn't.  I was mad at that whole ferry, Marist and everyone I interviewed with that didn't hire me. 

It took almost 5 months..but, I finally landed my first job - a permanent temp position with no benefits (which is a whole blog in itself) only 2 weeks before the October homecoming at Marist. 

We all have "Why me???" moments.   Its just natural.  Its hard not to look at those around you, whether they are friends, co-workers or family and wonder why they have it "better" than you do.  Today I was frustrated because I'm still a temp at 'Elastic."   This was all triggered by something very simple: my computer privledges had been revoked.  This is built in to the system to for temps and happens every few months.  I had to have my boss send an email toHR and then HR to instruct IT to extend my priviledges.   This, along with the fact that I don't receive company emails, and other little reminders of my limbo status, can get frustrating. 

 But I'm not going to let it get me mad like I was that day on the ferry.  I'm working.  I'm making money and building my skills. And my mom was right.  I'll be fine.

Its was just one of those days...but I won't let it keep me down. 

TOP 10 POSITIVE THINKING QUOTES:
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
Winston Churchill

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”
Herm Albright

“You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.”
Ralph Marston

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”
Willie Nelson

"There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

Henri Matisse

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”

Albert Einstein


“People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong...Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”
Thich Nhat Hanh

“In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.”

Lee Iacocca

"Don't worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright”

Bob Marley

“Remember even though the outside world might be raining, if you keep on smiling the sun will soon show its face and smile back at you.”
 Anna Lee