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My story is like everyone else’s. My husband and I live in a rural part of Tennessee. We moved here after my husband retired from the military (20+ years in). We have raised three children. My family is from here, and I wanted to be closer. My husband is from outwest. Well, I was laid off the day after Christmas, and his job slowed toa crawl. He was working 1 or 2 days a week. I was bitter, angry, upset, uncertain. Everyone who is in the situation knows and feels this. I am not on assistance. I do collect an unemployment check of $58- aweek, after 10% is taken out. We are surviving on what savings we have and my small unemployment check. It is slowly going down and I may have enough to live off of for another month or two, if I really stretch the budget.
Layoffs has seperated my family. My husband went out west to find work, I am staying behind to pack up the house and wait for our youngest son to graduate highschool come May. I hate being seperated from my husband and I see the loneliness in my son’s eyes. I pray things will get better. My husband has been staying with his family and finally, after several long weeks, has got through an interview with a promise of a job, once they get his background check done, which could take another week or two if they don’t rush it. But still, I am surviving. I have cut the heat down, cut the phone and cable to basic only, cut down on groceries, and don’t waste what little gas I have running here and there. I search the web for work, and when I am in town once or twice aweek, I put in applications at places who advertise they are hiring but really aren’t. It is to show the corporations they are making an effort.
I am upset because the people who get laid off (or fired) are from corporations that pocket bonuses and give no credit to those who put them in their higher positions. People who busted their butts to make the company work in the first place, are now being pink slipped to death. These very same hard working people have families they are trying to support. They don’t dine out, they don’t drive or dress fancy, and they don’t brag about how much of a bonus they get. They are devestated by loss of employment, worry each night about what they will do when their unemployment runs out and they file for jobs often taken by College people with degrees, even though that person may not have the years of experience these people being laid off have. I am not talking about high paying jobs or with people with degrees. Although, even a having a degree doesn't promise much these days. I am talking about the low paying ones. I was told I had too much experience when I applied for a fast food job! What does it take to flip a burger? I have experience in many fields but jobs are hard to come by. I am not so much angry anymore. I know that once this is all over, I will be more conscience of my spending, not that I spent like there was no tomorrow. I watched what I spent, and shopped when I needed to but I will do so even more strictly. I, like many Americans just need a job. We all need to feel worth something and know that our families will be taken care of. I feel whole when I am working. I am a workacoholic! This isn’t anything anyone asks for. I don’t ask for help and I am not on any type of assistance, other than unemployment, which hurts me to even have applied. I don't use food stamps. I am sure there are people who really need it and I am trying hard not be one.I cried when I had to file unemployment for the first time in my life. But I refuse to let this get me down. I believe things happen for a reason and I believe that once my family is reunited, knowing that I WILL get a job, maybe a better one, is my hope. It gives me strength and hope that I can move forward in all this. Going back to school right to change yet another career isn’t an option for me right now financially, but I will do it once I get back on my feet. I am not stupid, I have certifications in medical billing and transcription, and every aspect of the hospitality field from management to design and so forth but I want something that I can depend on and feel good about. I want that sense of accomplishment and knowing that my family and I can pull ourselves out of this slump and save for our future.
We aren’t asking for a handout, but honest, well paying jobs. We are working people. We used to live comfortable. This crisis has made us humble, made us feel closer in a sense, but while it is devestating and heartbreaking, I know that our family will pull together and be ther for one another when another crisis comes up.
My husband is coming back for our son’s graduation, and helping with the move, and I have been told to stop by several places I applied for on line when I get outwest.So hopefully, I will only have to endure this a little while longer.
Life is hard but it is what you make it. I have always told my children that every action, a reaction, and for every consequence, a solution. It is how one deals with their circumstance that will either make them or break them. This may have tried to take my dignity and pride, tried my patience from time to time and tried to steal self worth but it hasn’t broke me and I am still who I always was. I am someone and I will not let this break me!
I wish everyone the best. Hang in there. It isn’t easy. I still worry, I still cry but I have come out stronger and I still have my faith, my strength, and my hope for the future. I support everyone in their hunt for a better life. Don’t give up. Don’t let the corporations, high ones or small ones, see you down. Somehow build up your confidence, your self-esteem and get back to basics. Cut down on what you have, downsize, relocate but do what you use to do, and talk to your family. You need family, you need emotional support, and most of all, you have to have your dignity. It isn’t easy.
The first week my husband was gone, I felt like I was falling apart but I knew that I had to set an example. I had to be a parent and mother, and fill in for my husband. I am doing what I have to do, and it is a lot to carry but I also know that while we may be in crisis now, we won’t be later.
I try and keep up my sense of humor and I don’t lie to my son about how hard our lives have become. He is strong, healthy, and knows that we will get back our lives. We have love and we have faith, hope and we support one another.
So to everyone who feels like life is just too much, talk to someone, a friend or vent here because it will get better.
I am who I am. Just like you. And we are in this big boat called unemployment together. But we will find ourselves and we will be stronger for it. It may take time but we all have to do what is best for us, individually, familywise and for those who depend on us to kickstart this economy. LIFE. Don’t you just love it! Keep hope alive, support each other and don’t let the bad times knock you down. I am counting on you, and I am up and ready for the challenge. No matter what what you think today, YOU ARE WORTH IT!
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