Breakups and Layoffs

OK, so I've overcome the withdrawal symptoms from my corporate detox. I've thawed out a bit by doing a lot of journaling and down dogs and I'm somewhat at peace with my unemployed status quo--at least for the moment. But maybe too comfortable…because what's my excuse now for not blogging the past few weeks? Well, according to Parkinson's Law (Work expands to fill the time available for its completion), somehow yoga-ing and doing laundry have been filling up most of my days.

I was shocked to find out that two people (that I know of) actually read my first blog post. Really?! And I was pleased that one of them resonated with my emotional rollercoaster of being laid off, which helped give me a nudge to proceed with my next post…

I love coming up with apropos analogies for things. My favorite? Breakups and layoffs. Yep. Employer-employee interactions when it comes to hiring and firing have always reminded me of romantic relationships from courting to broken hearts. Here are three examples from my own personal experience:

1.) Getting laid off is like being broken up with.
More specifically, it is like when you're in a relationship with someone and you've had thoughts about maybe breaking up with them, but there's too much at stake, and you're not dissatisfied enough and don't have the balls to go through with it. Then, they turn around and break up with you. And you're like, "But wait, I was gonna break up with you first."

2.) Quitting a job is like breaking up with someone.
You completely angst and play it out in your mind over and over again and you physiologically respond (i.e. sweaty palms and pits) just thinking about doing it. Then you do it, but they don't want to let you go. They try to beg you to stay and guilt you back into it, and try making you an offer you can't refuse. They idealize the relationship and act surprised by your decision (even if it was a long time coming).

3.) Pursing your dream job is like having a total crush on someone.
The harder you chase, the more they elude you. You wait by the phone, you check your email every two minutes (let's be honest--seconds), you obsess about what to say, write, wear, etc. And job sites and singles sites both feel hopeless and eerily similar too, no?

Feel free to add to my list…