Monday 7 July 2008

The Fear Factor

We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

That Churchill certainly had a way with words. He managed to calm people down and rally them round while all around them their world was literally being taken apart.

I wish he was around today to keep my spirits up. I haven't posted in a week or so because I'm sort of in a fearful panic. Since hubby didn't get that job, I've gone into worrying overdrive. What if, what if, what if. Yet is my world and life as bad as it seems to me? Or is it bad because it seems bad?

I can tell myself over and over again that others truly have it bad right now. Think of the Zimbabweans. And to complain or even to voice my worries might be an insult to others facing the same or worse. And I don't want to do that.

I have come to the conclusion that I must seek work and have spent a bit of time looking online for jobs. But I haven't worked for 16 years, I am 48 years old, and I have no work history in this country. Those are pretty big obstacles. I will stack supermarket shelves if I have to, but I'm a long way off that. I have concluded that I will have to be creative and lower my standards a bit and think outside the box. Instead of one full-time job, perhaps two or three part-time jobs? Then I worry about the children because I am so used to being the one to have sort them out. But I'm not the only parent at home (though sometimes I think I'm the only useful one).

I must remember Churchill's admonishment most of all. I have allowed my fears to cloud my thinking, to allow me to stay in the same rut. I must conquer them and move on.

8 comments:

ChrisB said...

It must be so hard for your hubby getting turned down for that job after getting to interview stage. Did he get feedback?
The mother of a friend of mine who retired has started working in a supermarket a couple of days a week (previously did office work) she loves it because their is no pressure, she does her job and goes home. So it might not be a a bad job as an interim measure. I believe some supermarkets do a late evening shift which a lot of the childminders I used to inspect did as a second job. I've even thought of applying for this myself.

Exmoorjane said...

We're the same age! Grim eh? Hmm, think on it as an opportunity. What have you always fancied doing? What did you want to do when you were a child? What skills do you have that could be transferred to other things? Outside the box indeed - but not sure that several part-time jobs would be the answer - it would send me insane for sure.

softinthehead said...

and think positive. A change of scene, and something else to do to take your mind off your worries, that sounds like a good thing:)

Sparx said...

Hey hon, don't let it get you down, things do work out. There are definitely jobs out there and if you have a passion, try finding something you can do that involves it. It's never too late to start over or retrain - never!

laurie said...

this could be the start of a thrilling new chapter for you. truly.

DogLover said...

Good luck with the job hunting; I hope you get a really interesting one.

By the way, I think it was Winston's wartime mate on the other side of The Pond, Franklin Delano, who said it ... !

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

chrisb: And I bet the late evening shift is a lot more fun and less stressful!

exmoorjane: Bollinger bird told me we were the same age. Imagine that! I've had two or three part-time jobs before, though I was a lot younger.

softinthehead: So can I visit you in France?

sparx: Oh, I have things in the background that could start happening. Just have to turn up the gas.

laurie: I love your choice of the word thrilling. Roller coasters are thrilling and my life sure feels like one. But I think you're right.

doglover: You inspired me to write another post correcting myself! How embarrassing!

cactus petunia said...

Try not to focus on the BAD what ifs...Focus on the POSSIBILITIES. I firmly believe that we attract what we focus on, so it's better to focus on the good opportunities that could come up instead of the bad ones that haven't actually happened yet! I've been a self-employed freelance artist for years, and maybe also a cock-eyed optimist, but it keeps me sane (and solvent, so far). Hang in there!