Postcards from the Funny Farm

Photo by: KitAy
Most people have odd stories of jobs they did in college.  I have more than most I think.  Much much material for my teaching and for my kid’s bedtime stories comes from the years I spent in my early twenties as a Pizza Hut delivery driver.  There is much to share but in this post I want to tell you a story about a can of anchovies and 5 bucks.

In between deliveries on slow nights, the guys and like one girl would hang out in the back trying to appear as if we were cleaning things.  I remember the freaks that worked there.  One guy would always feel the need to tell us about the drugs he was on, not to mention the fact that he had them for sale if anyone was interested.  A real “high brow” group.  Not much for inspiration but bucketloads for funny stories.

Tim bet me I couldn’t eat a can of anchovies and I called his $5 bluff.  I swallowed a whole can of those nasty salty raw fish and stuck my tongue out to the laughter and disgust of the onlookers.  I took my $5 and went on my run quite green I think.  Needless to say I never told the folks who got their pizza that I pulled over to the side of the road and let those fish swim right back out.  God, was I am idiot in those days.  Stay tuned folks, I’ve learned a lot about life from pizza and in this series I hope to share it all!

*This post references depression caused by the stress of losing a job.  These tips in no way substitute for medication when medically necessary and the advice of a physician or licensed therapist.  Having said that, they are practical tips for anyone that hopefully help through a tough situation.

I listened to George W. Bush speak to the nation tonight.  He said recession twice but I have heard many intelligent people predicting depression for our economy.  Ever since I was a young man in high school I have pondered the trillions in our deficit.  I have always wondered: “When will it all collapse?”  I really hope that time isn’t now. Like a baby falls asleep quickly on freshly laden baby bedding, I hope we as Americans have not fallen asleep and accepted a lie.

I TIVO-d the speech and now my wife doesn’t want to hear it.  She seems to feel she’s heard it all before.  I hate to say it, but this might be different.  I can tell you with certainty that real estate will never be the same in my lifetime and possibly in my kids’ lifetimes.  I wouldn’t recommend it as a career to anyone.

But this site isn’t about politics, it’s about psychology so let’s examine what you can do to avoid “the great depression” yourself should you lose your job:

1) Don’t panic or despair.  The creative centers of the brain are not free when you are in this state.  Focus inward and meditate.  Develop a mantra to keep yourself calm and mellow.  In this place you can find creative solutions.

2) Go back to college.  These days the best degree to have is a trade or certificate.  An advanced academic degree will prove more useful in an education career.  Look into financial aid, it’s out there.

3) Take a walk every day.  this will help you sort through things.

4) Limit TV time.  Use the time to read self-improvement books and make lists.  When you get a job, you can go crazy on the tv watching :)

5) Call loved ones just to chat.  This gives health to your bones.

6) Create accounts at all the online jobsearch companies and put yourself out there.

1. Yahoo! Hot Jobs
2. Monster
3. other local

Stay positive whatever you do.  Remember your mind is a fine instrument.  The treasured memories of your life are stored there.  Take good care of it and it will take good care of you.

The times we are rejected are like forks in the road.  We may think the one road is best, but forces tell us we just can’t take it.  If you think of all the energy tied up in job interviews, dates when we are single, applying to schools, wanting babies, etc., it all becomes freed up for othet things once we are denied.  The only question that hangs in the ait after rejection is this: “Now what?”  What a great place to be.  You won’t be spending anymore energy on “road one” and you van let your imagination run wild about how “road two” will be.  Some of the greatest people in the world experienced rejection.  For one reason or another, no one wanted to produce Disney’s first film idea.  Can you imagine the regret that person or interview panel had years later?  Think about the road less traveled.  Robert Frost declared “That has made all the difference.”

This is a time where a lot of people are out interviewing to get a new job and better support their families.  Good news, they still aren’t requiring DNA testing or anything exclusivist like that. You have a chance! In all that fussing around, remember that rejection is not the end.  If you see it like I have been talking about it, it is clearly a beginning.

Tell me about the interviews for jobs you never got.  How do you view rejection?