| I was laid off from my job a few months ago and, | | | | a concept! I honestly cannot believe the amount of |
| although money has been tight, this time off has | | | | money I've saved. I've even traded coffeecakes, |
| given me unexpected gifts I would have never | | | | lasagna, and other home baked goodies for trunk |
| experienced otherwise. Carefully doling out my | | | | loads of firewood with a guy at church who cuts |
| meager savings, rising to 'power seller' status on | | | | down trees for a living - really made a difference on |
| eBay, and learning the definition of 'deferred | | | | my heating bill. Be creative! And barter, barter, barter! |
| payments' have all contributed to my survival while | | | | 5. I learned how to cook again. Shortly after I was |
| continuing to send out mass emails of my resume. | | | | laid off from my job, my son came home to this |
| But it dawned on me as I was raking leaves the | | | | mouth-watering aroma wafting through the house |
| other day that I have enjoyed some of the most | | | | and asked "Wow, what's for dinner?" When I told |
| mundane activities since I found myself on the | | | | him pot roast, he looked around the kitchen and |
| outside of the rat race. | | | | asked where I hid the crock pot. It dawned on me |
| If you're currently unemployed, don't despair - set | | | | that my kids had never had pot roast with brown |
| aside a certain amount of time for scouring the want | | | | crusty potatoes baked in an oven all afternoon. They |
| ads, making phone calls, and doing your share of | | | | loved it! It became my mission to pour through my |
| worrying - but then take a break from it. You are | | | | cookbooks and spoil my children with home cooked |
| defined by more than your role as provider, or by | | | | meals that I had never had the time or energy to |
| your occupation for that matter -- there's so much | | | | prepare. Do you like to cook, or wish you were a |
| more. Don't waste this opportunity. | | | | better cook? Now's the time to take it to the next |
| What are some things you've always wanted to do | | | | level. |
| but never had time for? Think of things you could | | | | 6. I have become a master at Sudoku! Pathetic, you |
| accomplish that would make your life easier when | | | | say? I think not. Who will be laughing when the |
| you do go back to work. Here are some ideas... | | | | government offers me a job as a secret code |
| 1. I cleaned my house! And I'm not talking just hitting | | | | breaker. Never thought of that, did you? |
| the big spots - I mean really cleaned! It's amazing | | | | 7. I finished my book. Have you ever wanted to |
| what can accumulate over the years when you're | | | | write a book? This has been one of the most |
| squeezing household chores between work, laundry, | | | | personally rewarding gifts I have received during this |
| dinner and sleep. I'm not saying my house looks like a | | | | drought. After years of trying to complete a book I |
| model home now - I still need a heads up if you're | | | | was writing to help encourage, organize and motivate |
| stopping by - but with 3 kids and 2 big dogs, I'd say | | | | other single parents, I finally finished it and have even |
| the place looks pretty darn nice! | | | | launched my own website. Now this could be |
| 2. Tackle projects. Like anyone else I have a | | | | something that defines you! It feels amazing - you |
| Honey-Do list. The only problem is, I'm the only | | | | need to try it! |
| Honey in the house, so between acting as bread | | | | How sad that some of our best dreams are rarely at |
| winner, cook, chauffer and chief bug killer, things | | | | the top of our priority list as we fly through the |
| didn't always get checked off that list. Until now! So | | | | self-inflicted routine of our lives. And as one of my |
| far I have stripped wallpaper, organized drawers, | | | | favorite authors says, "Everyone is an expert at |
| cabinets and closets, built an awesome dog house, | | | | something." ("From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur" by |
| and refinished all of my kitchen cabinets to go with | | | | Stephanie Chandler.) What are you an expert at? |
| the new paint job. I even cleaned out and painted | | | | What would you do if you had all the time you |
| my garage and hung pegboard so I have a place for | | | | needed (which, uh, you do right now...) and you knew |
| all my tools other than the floor. No wonder my | | | | you couldn't fail? Go for it! Write a book or a manual, |
| house stays so clean now! | | | | start your own business, work as a dishwasher in |
| 3. Spend time with your kids. This one is right at the | | | | exchange for free food at restaurants across the |
| top of my list. I actually went on a field trip with one | | | | country as you experience places you've never had |
| of my children without worrying about using up a | | | | the opportunity to see while you were stuck in a 9-5 |
| precious vacation day. When my daughter had a | | | | job (unless you have a family at home, then |
| week-long art project in addition to having to read a | | | | absolutely do not do that last one.) All I'm saying is, |
| novel, I read Dracula out loud to her every night | | | | while you're unemployed, sitting home being |
| while she worked on her art. We play video games, | | | | discouraged is not the only option. |
| lay around and read, take walks, watch movies - | | | | During this time among the unemployed, I have truly |
| why didn't I do this before?? Oh yeah, I was always | | | | come to appreciate so many things in my life and |
| working... | | | | been able to take advantage of opportunities I've |
| 4. I've become incredibly frugal. I actually take time | | | | not had the time or energy to enjoy. We all have so |
| now to read the ads for sales and cut out coupons | | | | many gifts, open your eyes and start seeing them! |
| and then plan every week's meals accordingly. What | | | | And get started while you've got the time! |