“Well, we all like things to be predictable, don’t we? We expect things to be safe and to keep on happening just the way they always have. We expect the sun to rise in the morning. We expect to get up, survive the day and finish up back in bed at the end of it, ready to start all over again the next day. But maybe that’s just a trick we play on ourselves, our way of making life seem ordinary. Because the truth is, life is so extraordinary that for most of the time we can’t bring ourselves to look at it. It’s too bright and it hurts our eyes. The fact of the matter is that nothing is ever certain. But most people never find that out until the ground suddenly disappears from beneath their feet.”
― Steve Voake, The Dreamwalker’s Child
As I celebrate the successful one month of my new job with an amazing Sunday breakfast and coffee in one of my favorite cities Rochester, NY. I recall the day which led to this celebration. No it was not the day I got this job, but the day I got laid off. Yes, you heard it right: “The day I got laid off”.
Layoffs are a really common but unfortunate and disturbing experiences for most of us. Often it ends up in the form of disappointment, depression and disapproval. I was disappointed too. I was depressed too. I was not ready to accept and believe that it could happen to me so soon. It had been just 2 months that I had taken this big move in my life. Those words still echo in my ears “We are eliminating your position”. This job was all I thought I ever wanted. I got this offer months before I graduated with my MBA. Soon after that I moved to Philadelphia for this dream job. That job gave me the best position and salary I could ask for. However, there was something within me which kept me thinking if it was the right decision. I was not happy the way I should have been. I was not sure what it was. Whether it was the new city, new people, home sickness or the job itself. I think I got the answer to this with my boss’s unexpected visit to my office telling me that they will have to let me go. I was in a state of shock for several hours not knowing what to do, where to go and whom to talk. After hours and hours of shredding tears and resentment, I calmed myself and made myself understand that I should start acting upon this situation rather than reacting and making it even worse.
The first thing I did was talked to the right people. First of them were my parents who have always supported me in all good and bad times. Though they were in India, but they supported me throughout to come out of this situation. Next, I contacted my college Advisor and visited her in Rochester. I can never forget what she told me then. “Disha all this is happening for a reason. God knew you were not happy with this job but he also knew that you would never leave this job since that is what you always wanted. So he kicked it out for you to let you know that this is not what you wanted.” Within my heart I knew this was the reason but it was hard to believe. I contacted everyone I could since I had very few months to get a job due to my visa issues. Luckily, I still had 2 months in my hands. And of course my friends who listened to all I had to say and helped me stay positive. Last but not the least, the people who made me realize that not everyone can be with you during your bad times. Those are the people which give you the best lessons in life.
Soon after realizing everything I needed to do, I prepared myself to unleash the next treasure box in my life. I rigorously started applying for jobs by erasing all the negativity whether situations or people. That helped me a lot to stay positive and keep it going. After 2 months, the day was here to finally leave my job. That morning I knew I was getting dressed for work to get fired. I picked out my best work outfit for that day. After all, it was the day to mark the end to the months of unhappiness. I listened to my favorite songs while driving to work. I met with the company HR who handed me the termination letter and packed up my stuff and drove back home. The moment I sat on the couch finally realizing that I don’t have a job anymore, I got a call from a company in Rochester I had been interviewing for. “Hello, we are really happy to offer you the position for Senior Market Research Assistant.” There you go, I was hired the day I got fired.
With all this being said. I would like to reaffirm a few things to all those who are reading this:
- It is true that everything happens for a reason and for our good.
- It is true that staying positive brings the best out of you.
- It is true that there is somebody out there working out the best for you.
- It is true that you should always be ready to expect the unexpected.
- It is true that you are the best problem solver for your problem.
- It is true that the worse than this could happen.
It has been a month that I moved back to Rochester for my new job. All I can say is I love my job, I love this city and I am happy. If a lay off or months of resentment is all it takes for this. It was completely worth it. As I finish my peaceful cup of my Sunday coffee, I thank all those who stood by me all these times and to those who backed out on me and made me stronger.
Thanks:
Almighty, Sanjeev & Neelam Manocha (My parents), Akash Manocha (My brother), Amit Wadhwa & Tarun Arora (My uncles), Peggy Tirrell (My advisor), My amazing friends: Fatima, Doris, Olive, Marina, Madiha, Pooja, Parinay, Maria, Arushi, Kamani & the list is endless.
About Carson Derrow
