[::Exaggerated Newsflash::] I was seven on the day of the cemetery visit in my last post, not five. My brain is on vacation.

I’m not, though, however much I might as well be.

Tomorrow marks the one-month-versary of losing my job to the unfortunate demise of my company, and I’ve got a check-in report for any of you who may be interested. How am I doing? What am I doing?

I’m doing well. I’m working on projects – some important and time-sensitive ones that would otherwise have been relegated to weekends, and some back-burnered projects, as well. It’s been a great feeling being able to work on stuff.

Truth be told, losing the job’s turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened, because Nenette became a special-needs cat at around the same time I became unemployed. It was a developing situation that evolved into the situation that it is today, which is Nenette requiring special care around a strict schedule, and it’s only because of job loss that I’ve been able to provide her with such care. It was fortunate for us that things turned out the way they did.

Additionally, I’ve found my way back to some good old fundamental perspective. I’ve spent most of 2023 worrying about losing my job, and now, in retrospect after I have lost my job, this classic flow chart returns to mind:

It was the uncertainty about my company – my job – that caused my nervousness and worry, but I’ve since realized that there’s a fine line between nervousness and worry. You can be nervous without being worried. Nervousness is a state of being, while worriedness is a state of mind. Nervousness is about feeling, and worriedness is about thinking.

No one needs the two things going on at the same time, but worry can cause nervousness, so that’s the thing to address.

I’ve been wanting to do more fitness posts, and I’m not there yet, but I consider this one to be a mental fitness post… because in terms of the mind/body connection, it counts. Worrying isn’t healthy for the body. I figure if I can do something about a problem, I will. If I can’t? Then I can’t. I’ll find a workaround, or whatever, but in any case, I shouldn’t worry. There’s no sense in worrying about something that you can’t change. You simply have to find other ways. Drive on.

I’ll always have to deal with nervousness in and of itself. I have PTSD, OCD, and clinical depression. These days, my practical approach to this largely involves identifying worry, getting to the root of it, and finding action to take. Action. It’s key.

So I’m doing well in the aftermath of losing my job. I’m here for those who need me, I’m getting shit done, and I’m restoring my health, getting lots of sleep consistently and whatnot. 7+ hours of sleep every night!

As sad as it was to leave a workplace, job, and people that I loved, I’m relieved that things turned out the way that they did. This is what needed to happen. This is The Universe looking out for me. I’m very fortunate that I’m able to get along financially, as well.

Thank you all for sticking with me, friends. I appreciate you more than you can know.