The Life of the Unemployed: Day 1

After being laid off from my job of 16 years, I spent my first day of unemployment moping around the house. I didn't break down and have a crying fit like I thought I would but I was pretty much in a daze the entire day. About an hour after I had returned home, I stopped resisting the urge to put on my pajamas and curl up in a fetal position on my bed. It was somewhat cathartic. By 6 p.m. though, I had declared an end to my moping. Tomorrow, I said to myself, I'm going to start being deliberate about how I spend my days. I decided to spend the next week relaxing, clearing my head and not making any major decisions. I also vowed to do only what I enjoy doing.

Today, my first full day of unemployment, I've stayed true to the promise I made to myself. So far, here's how I've spent my day:

8:30 a.m. Got out of bed. For months now, I've been going to bed at 11:30 p.m or midnight every night and feeling exhausted by the time my alarm went off at 7 a.m. Last night, I didn't even bother setting my alarm. I let my body get as much sleep as it needed and boy did I feel better for it.

8:45-9:45 a.m. Ate breakfast and did my devotional. For the first time, I am attending a church that acknowledges the liturgical seasons. That means I get to celebrate Lent, which I have never done before . During the church service on Sunday (before I was laid off), I had decided to "fast" some of my time (I know I'm stretching the fasting concept here but work with me) and do my devotional every day for 40 days, a task that sadly I have yet to accomplish and lately have been EXTREMELY lax about. I'm glad I made this decision because I've suddenly found myself in what could possibly be a very tumultuous time in my life and I can use all the spiritual enlightenment I can get.

9:45-10:45 a.m. Yoga. This falls into the "do only what I enjoy doing" category. I LOVE yoga. It's good for the body but it's also very calming to both the mind and the spirit and I'm going to need a calm mind and a calm spirit as I navigate through all the red tape at the unemployment office.

11:00-12:00 p.m. Ate lunch and did dishes. Now, you may not think that doing dishes would be something that I would enjoy doing but I haven't done dishes since my fiance's last visit on Feb. 14. That's a long time ago and a lot of dishes. They are beginning to take over my kitchen and I plan to wrestle its possession back into my control.

12:10 p.m. I noticed that the passenger side lock on my car would not open. I shrugged my shoulders, entered my car through the driver's side and went on my merry way.

12:30-1:30 p.m. Visited with former co-workers and spread the news of my lay off to the ladies at my gynecologist's office next door.

1:30 p.m. I examined the lock on my passenger door and realized that someone had tried to break into my car. This must have occurred either while I was at home or at my Monday night yoga class. Those are the only places where my car was parked for any length of time.

1:45-2:45 p.m. I spent $40 at Walmart on necessities! Don't they know I just lost my job?!?

3:30 p.m. Called the sheriff's department and filed a report for my attempted car break-in just in case I decide to file an insurance claim.

5:00 p.m. Left for my weekly Bible study. I had originally considered dropping out of this study, but that was when I was working multiple jobs, going to yoga once a week and handbell practice on Wednesdays. Now that I have all the time in the world, I think I'll keep this activity if for no other reason then to have one hour a week where I am not focusing on myself and my joblessness.