When Karma Bites, My Humble Apology

I do believe in karma, and I am truly humbled by your example, though I am very sorry this has happened to you. I don't think you deserved it in any way. I know why people who have made it believe success can happen for others who are willing to work for it, but I truly always wonder why those who have very little are so hateful to those who have even less.

I work for the government as a public servant, and have for more than 30 years. Every time I hear someone wanting to dismantle government social programs, I am scared to death. Not only would it affect my livelihood, but the programs that could help me when I lose my livelihood will be gone as well. We cannot succeed by tearing each other down.

I recently revisited the website for the school fire at Our Lady of Angels School in 1958. In the descriptions, they found children piled at the base of the windows, where smaller ones had been pushed down by larger children to try to get out of the windows. The smaller children could not reach the window sill. They all perished. If the larger children had perhaps helped the smaller ones out the window, then they could have all, or at least more of them, gotten out. Because in fact, the things that held the smaller ones back they had no control over. The larger ones weren't taller because they were better or worked harder. In the end, they all perished. As a society, we can lift up those who are held back, and in doing so, it helps all of us have a better chance at succeeding.

You will find success again, you have everything going for you to do so. Someone will reach out a hand and pull you out. Then you can do the same for the person behind you. That's karma.

I'm sorry for what you're going through, Jonda and hope that things pick up soon.

On a different note, I'm glad you found your way here.

{hugs}

I hope things turn back around for you soon!

And even another lurker agreeing. Sometimes things happen thru no fault of our own. Hope things turn around for you SOON!!!

I hope things improve for you soon. Add me to the list of those who are glad you found your way here.

I also made great contacts and got a permanent job through temping. My dad had a real estate company and auction company, and I started answering phones at 12. I had a ton of office experience before I even went to college. When I was looking for temps, I also was told that I was *over qualified*. I customized my resumes by the positions/ experience needed. I never lied, but they didn't need to know about ALL my life experiences if they weren't relevant. Nobody cared that I got an A in Art History when I was the operator at a warehouse.

Jonda, I'm glad to see you found your way home! I agree with the posters who said you did nothing to deserve being laid off. You are one of the many that have taken the big hit with the finanacial situation we are all in right now. I'm sorry it happened to you and I'm sorry that even with your planning ahead, you will still come close to the edge financially.

Layoffs or company closures have happened to a lot of us. I would be in the same position as you had I not had an accident. I got a layoff notice while I was off on short term disability with injuries sustained in a bad fall. As it turned out, my doctor didn't want me going back and working at the job where I had been due to having to sit all day anyway. Just in the nick of time, I was put on my company's private long term disability policy before the layoff date. This policy will pay me until I am 65. Thank God it was there! The policy payment isn't huge, but it pays for my food, roof over my head, and a few bills. The company that laid me off was sold a few weeks after that last batch of layoffs that would have included me. I know a few people that have still not found new jobs, and this was 2 years ago.

It is a different existance, isn't it? We learn who our friends are and we see how much we don't really need in our lives anyway. My good luck continued and I have taken in a friend to help with maintenance around the house that I can no longer do. He was in a bad finanacial position as well, being let go from his previous place. I do have two more bedrooms, and who knows if I will end up helpling out other friends who are struggling. If we all pitch in together, we will make it through this tight period. Do you have any friends who could let you have a room in exchange for work or at least with a reasonable rent? Teaming up together with friends makes the situation a lot less painful all around.

I have another good friend that owns a condo in Laguna Beach overlooking the ocean. He is already trying to prepare should his name come up on a layoff list. Since he lives in such a beautiful beach area, (Laguna Beach) he can garner a huge monthly rent during the summer months. Last summer he listed with an agency and they can get $20,000 per month on his place for the summer months. He is doing it again this summer. He is currently staying at his mom's condo with her, but it's getting tense for him. He may end up here with me in one of my rooms. That will bring in a bit of money for me and I'm close to his office to cut down his commute. He rents his place furnished and removes all personal and valuable items to his storage unit so it is some work for him, but he earns enough to pay a lot of bills during that three-month period. It was a really creative way to get some money saved up in case of layoff. I don't know if that is possible for you to do, but I thought I would throw it out as a workable option just in case you could do this.

Good luck finding the right job that will put you back in the income bracket you need. And in the mean time, come here for breaks in your job hunt. It's good to see you back.

I fully agree with this and could not have written it better myself.

I wish the best for you. Times are so tough, and I am proud of you for your determination to not give up.

I was mostly a lurker on the old board and rarely opened political threads. I admire your humbleness and do not feel it is karma, it just is. I completely understand what you are going through, it is like a sucker punch to the psyche. I also had it made financially and professionally. Great status, house, cars, savings and a hefty retirement fund. Twenty-six years with the last fifteen in upper management, no children or family. Hot stuff, jet setting all over and looking down at the minions. All the perks, closing in on retirement then BAM, in 2007 my job was cut.

Cleaned out all savings and retirement funds to try to keep the house and then ran out of funds, it was awful. Took almost three years to find a decent job. Did anything, sold things including my parents jewelry, applied at McDonalds, Costco, Target, just about every where but could not get work. I have advanced degrees and advanced age (late 50's) so that did not help.

Finally got a part time job in 2010 out of my field. Loved it. Went full time about eight months later, not making as much as before but pretty close. I have never been so happy with a job and my life as I am now.

Saved my house literately the day before it was to be sold in the foreclosure auction and am recovering financially. But my attitude is so different now, it is like I have been purged of that "I have money so I am better" subconscious banter. My values have changed so much and so has my spending. My life is truly more fun, has more depth and rewards.

I wish you the best and hope you find a great job soon.

Do you feel comfortable in this forum sharing your approximate geography and general line of business? Sometimes networking in creative places can give us unexpected opportunities.