I had the inspiration for this website months and months and months ago, if you can call it that. I had grand plans of starting a project that might lead to an article or a book or some other lofty project. As usual, my anxiety about doing everything “just right” kept getting in my way, making me second guess not only my writing ability, but my ability to follow through on anything that was completely my own. You see, I have been a worker my entire life. I have collected a paycheck since I was 15 years old and had jobs at my parents’ restaurant or delivering newspapers or babysitting even before that. I worked my way through school, hostessing, waiting tables, serving cocktails. I have three degrees in higher education despite taking my proficiency at the same age as those paychecks needed to start rolling in (or perhaps because of it). I have tried to do everything right and I thought maybe I was succeeding in some way or form.

And yet … about six weeks ago something changed how I think about the world. For the first time in my life I was told my job was going to be eliminated. That they no longer needed my “level of expertise” for the position they would try to backfill. I woke up the next morning to see the job posting for the “new” role they had created. A slap in the face, a humiliation imposed in front of all the world to see, a mark on the many years I have worked to build my career, my reputation, my profession.

I am not alone today. There are multitudes who have recently been laid off, whether in the private or public sector. I don’t feel particularly sorry for myself and I continue to believe in silver linings. I am an optimist and I actually thrive on change. So, I will write, because that is what I am drawn to at this moment. Let’s be clear here: I am not promising anything today or tomorrow or the day after. I am just showing up here to help myself grapple with my new reality. And I hope you do as well, because sometimes hope is all we have.

sending you love & light,

ek