Thoughts on.... being unemployed

[stakky23]

The count:  8 hours.

How are you supposed to feel?  Is there a natural human response?  Is there a generalized response set by society?  I'm so torn, and just trying to look on the good side.

I made it through work today, for the most part, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.  And then I got home, and felt pretty numb.  If I weren't happy for my

Comments

[ieke85]

Similar feelings over here. I think many many people are going through this to some degree right now

[ieke85]

I suppose I should point out (or remind myself?) that I am grateful I have this job and that it's relatively secure. It's paying for my mortgage and food and entertainment to keep us happy, and I realize a lot of people don't have that security right now. It's not a crappy job in objective terms. It's just a huge weight on my shoulders every morning because it's not what I want.

Dissatisfaction at every level. Damn hierarchy of needs. Thanks, Maslow.

[stakky23]

Woohoo Maslow! Yea self-actualization is definitely important, even if you have the other levels of needs fulfilled. I think that Stanford students, especially, tend to be optimizers. So I'm not surprised we're in our "stressed out" states, even when we've got it pretty good.

Re:job. I've done a bit of back-and-forth about enjoyment vs security over the past year. Of course, I already think about financing the house... and kids (and not working when I have kids?!) that I want one day. And the fact that Henning will be in school for the next 5 years... And it all of course makes me think I'VE GOT TO START SAVING NOWWW. At some point, someone stopped me and helped me see that 5 years is a long time, and maybe I can have a year or so to try things out, have some non-conventional experiences perhaps, and get back to the grind if those don't work out.

Yea, definitely scared of never finding something that makes money and that I enjoy. I guess we'll just have to see. And help each other out!

[stakky23]

PS how is married life / life?