Wash the Windshield

Keeping the view of the road ahead clear.



Monday, July 1, 2013

Expansion

While my waistline is rapidly expanding, thanks to a 2 pound little hunk of man growing inside me, my pride continues to shrink as I'm spending my first full day "unemployed".

I've spent the day doing laundry, updating my resume and applying for some jobs; we'll see what comes of it all.  At the least, I'll have clean clothes (most of which barely fit).


I'm always amazed at the gift of 'purpose' in everything that happens.  Less than a month ago, I turned in a 16 or so page paper about gender roles of women and how they are linked to success within the United States for my Sociology class.  2 weeks after receiving an A+ on my paper for sociological perspective and good argument, I get notification of workforce reduction. 

Humbling? 

Quite so.

You see, my paper focused on comparing the United States culture to the Japanese culture.  Through the research on this paper, I learned a great deal of information about women's gender roles in other societies and found that in the United States, things are very different. 

Not necessarily WRONG, just different.

..but that doesn't mean that it's right either.

I'm very guilty of being the "typical" or "stereotypical" woman in the United States; where my success is based upon my title and ability to provide.  In many other cultures, women find a great deal of success in just raising a happy and healthy home.  The sad reality, at least for me through this experience, is that without a job, a title and a paycheck, I feel my worth is minimal.  While, my extremely supportive husband that I did nothing to deserve, continues to encourage me in staying at home and caring for our family; more specifically for the new little person that we will have in just a few months. 

But for some reason, society has groomed me to think that isn't enough for me.

I have a great deal of growing to do through this experience.  And I know that it has happened at the exact moment in time that it was supposed to; a turning point in my life where I'm just a handful of classes away from finishing my Bachelor's, am no longer a single mom and am getting ready for the next phase of my life which includes some soul searching to figure out what REALLY makes me fulfilled.

Deep down, I know that HP did me a huge favor.  It's just the in between time that I'm really struggling with.  I don't have a plan.  I don't even have an idea of how to get to a plan.  I have a lot of different "passions" or things I'd love to do with my life, but not exactly sure where to pick up and head with those. 

I'm not typically the type to embrace change, but am being forced to do so.  Perhaps it's time. 
 
Instead of focusing on the negative aspects that society (and myself) have attached to the "unemployed" label, my goal this week is to find value in this time where I am not working; whether it be through making changes at home (cleaning, organizing), spending much needed quality time with my children, or educating myself on the next steps and how to move forward.

Here's to my expansion project; both in my midsection as well as my mind.