P.S.: Lessons from a friend

In difficult times, it's easy to become negative and cynical (and, especially at work, it seems being inept can add to the negativity, probably due to fear and insecurity). But some people manage to stay competent, capable, skilled, willing, patient, productive, optimistic and good-natured. You might think the latter would have a great deal of job security over the former, but life isn't always fair, is it?

The amazing thing is, the competent, capable, skilled, willing, patient, productive, optimistic and good-natured one still has a great attitude. On the one hand, she can honestly say it seems as if her dream job cost her her job. (It was a position deemed expendable, even though the tasks have been farmed out to others.) And she can honestly say it seems as if her ability to get the job done without causing a fuss or needing lots of help put her at a disadvantage, because no one realized just how much she did.

But perhaps most incredibly, even though she's now without a job, she sees the silver lining. Because of circumstances in her nonwork life, she very matter-of-factly notes that maybe there's a reason for this, because she needs to be at home right now, instead of at work. And then she talks about future job possibilities, perhaps in a new career field.

Her words and example provide important lessons for one who still has a job but struggles to accept what seems like the unfairness of it all.

Thank you, friend.