Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes
September 30, 2009 – 10:16 amThat David Bowie song keeps running through my mind lately, you know the one about facing uncomfortable changes. The current economic environment has dictated that many of us make changes, whether we want to or not.
Too many people have lost their jobs after making a comfortable living after several years or even decades, and now find themselves like fish out of water, trying to survive in this jobless “economic recovery.”
I watched the local news the other day and they dedicated an entire segment to how workers in the hardest hit areas – real estate, construction and banking - can re-invent themselves to accommodate the changing market.
The happy news anchor droned on about how easy and obvious it was for a banker to become a nurse. For some reason, that segment angered me because I thought that if they wanted to become a nurse they would have done so in the first place! It stinks that you’ve gone to school, pursued a career but now have to abandon it because there’s simply no work?
Personally, I lost my fat writing job after 12 years of dedicating myself to interviewing and writing about banking. Like a lot of print news media outlets, even my well established company closed its doors leaving me to make changes.
Luckily, I found more work as a writer. I’m no nurse but I have to work considerably harder and learn about completely new topics, industries and writing techniques for the Internet but I am still drawing somewhat of a paycheck in my field. My old comfort zone is completely gone and I feel like a fresh college graduate, a newbie if you will.
Although I find that I have more bad days than good, I’m realizing that this is how we grow and learn; as painful as it is. If my situation hadn’t changed I wouldn’t have this blog or learn new ways to perform my craft. It will take a long time before I get back in my comfort zone but maybe that’s one of life’s little gifts.
My son, who is now in a cast up to his hip for the next six to 12 weeks, was complaining about his situation and it dawned on me why getting knocked down a bit in childhood is a good thing.
I explained to him that the adversity he was experiencing was going to teach him how to jump into new environments and thrive instead of panic. He’ll get smarter just trying to figure out how to finagle his way around a middle school of 2,500 students and how to get up a flight of stairs. If we never had to deal with difficult or different situations we would not learn how to adapt and change.
Change hurts. It’s downright painful at times but no matter how old we are, we can learn from these tough situations and figure out how to adapt and thrive during challenging times.
Gina Ragusa is a freelance writer and mom from sunny (and sometimes not) South Florida. Her 15 year experience ranges from writing about banking to tattoo parlors.
2 Responses to “Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes”
Well said. But change doesn’t always have to hurt. Some people are just better programmed at “going with the flow” and change is simply another door to walk through.
Change inevitably works out for the best, though it is not seen as that until far down the road at times.
As you said, it is a learning experience and figuring out how to thrive in change and embrace is the best thing we can do.
By Debra on Oct 3, 2009
I really think that reality is painful and life is bittersweet. It is just up to us on how to manage those feelings and emotions. We also need to see the bright side whenever there’s a problem and never ever give up!
By Dentist Boynton Beach on Oct 6, 2009