Losing My Job Changed Me

Wednesday afternoon working from my flat in Patras. I remember I had just finished a team sync?? , locked my screen and got up to check my personal laptop. It was the end of yet another productive day and I was satisfied that my delivery of work was once again satisfactory. I had to do some work on my laptop and accidentally clicked on my personal e-mail. And what do I see? My ex-employer had dropped the bomb, I had been laid off!!??''Wow!'' I said to myself, my instinct was right and somehow I was prepared for this shockwave.

It was a rainy afternoon, first thing I did was to take my car keys and go grab a bite to eat. I wanted to get out of my apartment to get some fresh air and process what had just happened. Driving down the road , I had mixed emotions. Clearly I was in shock and the disappointment was starting to sink in. One should never take anything for granted. But I understand that everything has a beginning and an end. Nothing lasts forever! Retrenchment had never crossed my mind. But I do realise that life challenges all of us and through tough times we grow.

After a period of introspection I had this urge to grab my laptop. As I arrived back home I decided to make a genuine and spontaneous post on LinkedIn. Sharing my feelings with my professional network. Moreover, LinkedIn is not only built to share success, certifications or promotions but also ''unexpected realities''. I don't see a lay off as a failure but rather as an unfortunate event that makes one stronger and invariably leads to new challenges.

So what happens when you lose your job? Plenty of free time and here is another difficult task, how to handle free time, it can be both devastating and regenerating.

My daily ritual as an unemployed individual started with waking up early in the morning , enjoying the sun rise, grabbing a latte', taking a long cycle along the breath taking sea board then lunching with my parent's. I am so blessed to have grown up in such a balanced and loving household. They instilled strong values in me which I brought into my career. After some time, I came to the realisation that losing a job is not the worst thing that can happen to one.

I have been blessed with great friends and family. It is amazing to see how people really care for each other in times of need.

What have I perceived in the two months since being laid off? In a nutshell: I am a lot more compassionate, have grown spiritually and feel stronger. Is it a career gap? On the contrary it has been a break very much needed to re-evaluate many aspects of both my personal and professional life. After all, what is the purpose of becoming an experienced professional with a prominent position if you cannot help others in their time of need?

In conclusion, I am a better person than I was before.

My dear networkers:

NOW I am ready for my next career challenge!!??