People tell me this weekend is Memorial Day.
These people are still employed and use calendars to organize work meetings. I, on the other hand, don’t have much use for a calendar since every day is Unemployed in My Pajamas Day. So it’s no surprise that important dates and major holidays go unnoticed.
But back to Memorial Day. Three days off! Beer and barbecues! Wearing white shoes without guilt! Forget the scientific solstice. This is the start to summer. The weekend every working stiff has been waiting for.
But what about us non-working stiffs? A summer vacation doesn’t seem necessary when you’ve been involuntary vacationing for months. Without a job, this end of May seems to have the complete opposite effect. Instead of looking forward to 80 degree weather and cutting out early, I’m dreading how hot my apartment will get without AC. And how that bathing suit I’ve been eying isn’t exactly top priority now that Uncle Sam signs the checks. Stupid recession, stop trying to ruin my June, July and August.
All this guilt has left me wondering- how the heck should I spend my summer now that a job isn’t standing in the way?
Well, all the weeks I was stuck inside and behind a desk I dreamed of warm days doing what I wanted. Yoga classes. Going to the beach once a week. Picnics and window shopping. Catching up on reading and writing. Not the most economic or career advancing, but maybe good for the soul. So there’s that option.
On the other end of the spectrum, I could give into the fear known as my plummeting savings account and pick up some waitressing shifts around town. Job search by day and “Hi-my-name-is-Jackie-I’ll-be-your-server” by night. I’ve done it before and it’s not ideal, but nowadays not much is.
Or I could spend my summer doing something that will make the rest of the year better. Maybe even great. Dare I say profitable? I could take classes on SEO and learn how to get more hits for my blog. Bug a friend to teach me how to write grants and start freelancing for non-profits. Scrounge up change under the couch (aka my office) and visit friends at agencies I’d love to write for. Work on my book at the public library and bask in the free central air. And the schedule is mine for the making, so a day sunbathing shouldn’t be too hard to squeeze in either.
My id, ego and superego have their picks. But there’s only one summer that sounds as relaxing and resume-building. A compromise. I can have my ice cream cake and eat it too. Plus on the off chance my future employer asks the question, “How’d you spend your summer vacation?” I know I’ll have the killer answer: This summer I found the balance between working for a living, and living.
Jackie Meyer is a copywriter, blogger, and fellow former Arnold employee.
10 Comments
This is exactly how I feel. On one hand, you think I should be doing all these productive things, or enjoying my free time, and then you just end up a miserable couch potato instead.
Nice one Jackie. Lets not forget the summer fridays we had too. Now every day is a summer Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday……
Excellent guest post on PFTA: “This summer I found the balance between working for a living, and living.” http://bit.ly/VEG52 (via @QuinnK)
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Very well said- may we all find such balance when we emerge from these tough times.
Hey Jackie,
I’m a nonprofit consultant doing a ton of grant writing lately…more than I can handle. I’d be happy to talk to you about grant writing and maybe even toss you some freelance work..it’s not advertising wages but it feeds me….
Thanks everyone!
PlumIslandGal, I’d love to connect about your grant writing experience! All my information is on the talent section on this website- let’s talk!
I tried to take a class in SEO. It’s full. Wait till next year they said. I tried to volunteer for non-profits. Every copywriter in advertising has the same idea. One place told me they’ve been flooded with copywriters willing to work for free. The non-profits don’t need copywriters. They need people to stand out on the sidewalk and talk to passers-by, if they need anyone at all. I guess i’ll have to stick to watching television for 12 hours a day.
Not sure where you’re located – but my solution to the problem was to finally give up
The Apathy Club is now running over a million strong over on my blog and growing every day.
The problem with caring is that it can cause you to lose your job (ie Please don’t attach my name to that POS sell-out campaign.), be depressed about losing said job, and even worse – convince you that finding another job might be beneficial.
So simply look at it as if it were actually the end of the world. It’s not – so you’re okay there. But if it were, you wouldn’t be missing the party, right?
Enjoy your summer and instead feel sorry for the people left in the industry, working 120 hour weeks to cover the talent the CEOs were “forced to let go” so they could sustain their extravagant lifestyles.
Eventually the industry will bounce back – until then, it’s not your fault.
Also, in my particular case, I was well connected enough to receive $5 million from Paulson and another $2 million from Geithner.
Because I know how the game is played, yes I do.
great post…I think this will be my motto starting TODAY:
This summer I found the balance between working for a living, and living.
Just wanted to update this: By July, I had a job. A position opened up in San Francisco but they only wanted someone who was local. So I made myself local. I flew out to California on my own dime and convinced them I was the one. And the summer I dreaded/looked forward to was filled with work. For better ($$) and for worse (byebye beach days).
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