by Judith Whitehead

Created on: May 26, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

After working many, many years in the field of Ophthalmology, I cannot believe that I find myself joining the ranks of the unemployed. Can it be that a twist of fate has struck a family twice within a years' time. My husband was part of a downsizing of a firm in 2007 and now I find myself in the unemployment line, "on line".

I am living proof that loyalty, hard work, excellence in ones field, and dedication do not equal job security. The days of an employers sense of conscience towards an employee have fallen by the wayside and decisions have come down to dollars and cents. We are living in a time of "cut backs" and tightening of our belts. Insurance premiums are up and insurance reimbursements are down and the fallout affects us all.

I have not been "home" and unemployed for over 25 years; although I love my home, I am not the typical homemaker type. I don't really derive much pleasure from domestic duties and would rather be out and about contributing in some way to the public. My family has appreciated more elaborate home cooked meals though, I must add. The first few days of being home were a nice break; no rushing around at 6 am with a leisurely day to follow. After that, anger and disappointment began to set in. Looking for a job is a full time job. Years ago, there were only a few ways to secure employment. Today the internet has opened up a whole new way to search. Every company has a web site and head hunters are everywhere. Unfortunately, there is a lot of competition during this time in our country and Buffalo is a pretty small town in comparison to many areas around the country. Having a network of connections, outstanding resume, and great references are all necessary to find desirable work. There has to be opportunity out there as well.

This event has given me the opportunity to re examine my goals and skills. Maybe it's time to branch off into a new career, retool my resume, and do something I have thought about but never entertained, because I had a job to go to. When you are caught up in a current job, it's hard to think out of the box. You become a drone going to work every day and loosing some of your creative thinking. A steady job can lull you into a false sense of security and as I found, one should never feel secure in a position. I will always take the time from now on, if I'm lucky enough to find suitable employment, to have a backup plan in place and options in the back of my mind in case disaster strikes again.

As for now, my family will have to endure my endless experimental dinners, and creative baking. My body will have to get used to long, healthy walks in the morning and my Doctors will have to get reacquainted with me since I have put off preventive appointments that didn't fit into my work schedule over the last few years. I will miss the patient contact that I had grown used to and the acquaintances that I have met over the many years of working in the medical field. Maybe out paths will cross again in a new endeavor I may become involved with; one never knows the prediction of the fututre. As for now, I will continue to rise early and greeet the day with optimism. I will take the time to smell the flowers and hope that a new opportunity is just around the corner.

I am the eternal optimist and with or without a job, that will never change. Maybe that is a herdeitary trait, for my mother was of the same nature and it will only imporve my chances for success.

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