by Carly Lejnieks

Created on: March 22, 2009

When the state of the economy hits home it is thorny to say the least. The news headlines have a different impact when you read them. Sleeping through the night becomes increasingly difficult to do. The pile of unpaid bills gets taller. And anxiety, stress and depression can mount. There is a silver lining though. When the state of the economy hits home (like it did in mine), it can present an opportunity to reevaluate life, and how you have been living it. A positive outlook does not eradicate financial responsibilities or the pressures tied to providing for your children. It does, however, offer some balance and perspective. It has not been easy, but this is what I have opted to do.

In December 2008, I walked out of my office and spotted the SVP of Marketing walking down the hall towards me. I prayed he wouldn't want to talk to me (insider leaks provided a heads-up on a lay-off). No such luck. He stopped and asked if I had a minute. I followed him into his corner office where he handed me, "my papers". I embarrassingly cried; four little mouths to feed and no income (or savings) now to do it. It was a very long day, and only one week before Christmas.

Trying to network and build momentum on a job search during the last two weeks of December and first week of January seemed a bit like trying to tan in cloudy twenty-below-zero weather. I didn't let this stop me, however. I tried; I really did. Six weeks severance pay would only help cover my January bills and the shopping expenses I had already incurred for Christmas. I felt like I was frantically rushing to beat the clock. At the same time, I was trying to work through residual shock and rising fatigue and stress. It was a bit paralyzing; like trying to move through thick mud.

I have worked as a marketing professional for twenty years and have never been without work or had a need to collect unemployment (let alone hunt down social services) to help me support my four children. Half of my career has been spent working as a marketing consultant and freelance writer. In the past, when one project came to a close there was at least one waiting in queue for me to tackle (and bill against). Now, the pipeline on any consulting work has remained pretty skimpy. This could change down the road but future income does not, unfortunately, cover the mortgage bill on my desk that was due last week.

In the short-term, I am focusing on trying to reduce expenses where ever possible. In addition, I have been seeking new sources

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