It was the day after Labor Day, and my body must have known what was coming because I got a migraine that morning and called in sick to work. I came out of a fog to see some text messages from my coworkers. One from my friend who wrote, “We ALL been laid off. It’s not a surprise for me.”
It was not a surprise for me either, unfortunately. Our company was acquired by another company and since 2020 when the first round of cuts occurred there had been layoffs every year, sometimes multiple times a year. The team I worked on was cut from eight plus a manager to four including the manager over those years. In the last reorg our tasks were being automated by contractors in India, but they were having a lot of difficulty actually automating anything.
That said, I went to a meeting with an SVP that afternoon to officially get laid off, after 13 years at the company. My last day was in November 2025 and the holidays were rough. I signed up for unemployment and started job hunting and the job market is not what I remember from the last time I seriously applied for jobs in 2012. Not only that but I am looking at a career pivot because my last role was not a great fit for my skillset. Let’s just say the odds are not in my favor so I know it will take time to find a good fit.
My network has been amazing. I have lots of referrals for jobs that I think I would be amazing at and even have had several interviews. I am optimistic I will find something this year, but not in a rush as unemployment has now become a blessing in disguise for several reasons.
First, I have learned how to shop and cook for myself. I’m 44 and I finally did it. I have been eating so well I am losing weight and sleeping better. I actually want to get up in the mornings. The happy side effect is I need smaller pants!
I learned that my allergies were a real problem for my sleep quality and started adding something to my cats food so i am no longer allergic to them. I cannot tell you how much of a difference just getting good sleep has made to my mental health. It’s Pacogen, Cat Allergy Reducing Supplement. Highly recommend if you have allergies to your cats.
Lastly I have had time to focus on beautifying my backyard and organizing/decluttering my home. I painted my fence over the weekend and it brought me so much joy I just never had energy to do this work before now. Making my home a place I feel peaceful is something I really appreciate.
Because the job market is so much different and applying with AI is the norm, I have been focused on building meaningful relationships instead of hitting the apply button. I try to go out with at least one friend a week to both get myself out of the house and network. I forget sometimes that the universe has a plan and the people you want to see are usually the key to that plan. If you have been hearing a ringing to connect with someone, I encourage you to do so. Connection and community are keeping me motivated and joyful in this strange time.
The Happy Hedge 