On Being Laid Off

I got laid off two months ago.

It has been a lot to process.

I’ve had some folks say or intimate to me: don’t talk about it. Hide what happened if you can. Don’t let on that it’s tough. People will hold it against you, even if they say they won’t.

I’m sharing my experience anyway, because others going through similar experiences deserve to know they are not alone.

The weeks since I was informed that I was laid off have been a swirl of emotions.

First — shock at what happened; followed by:

Fear in the face of uncertainty about my career, finances, and most importantly, impacts on my family;

Anger;

Self-doubt: questioning my worth and abilities;

Regret, grief, and nostalgia for the job and colleagues I lost.

And perhaps above all — sadness.

All of those emotions still manifest at times. But increasingly, I also experience:

Laughter, as I find elements of humor in a dark situation;

Determination to believe in myself and move forward;

Acceptance of what happened;

Optimism that better days are ahead; and

Gratitude for family and friends who have helped me on this journey.

I made a playlist to help me process these emotions and am sharing it in case it can be helpful to others having similar experiences.

If you are going through a similar experience — I see you, and I stand with you.

You are not alone, and I’m here for you.

I believe we will come through this experience stronger than we were before. And in the end, we will be ok. Until then —

We are in this together.

#layoffsandjobreductions. #music #layoffs

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/big-layoff-feelings/pl.u-2aoq8DvfLLj11m