I've been meaning to share what I believe are the BENEFITS of being unemployed. I've found myself unemployed way more than either of my brothers combined (have either of you ever been unemployed?), and trust me, that's not bragging. But it has taught me some valuable lessons, lessons that would be nice to be learned while employed but that 'come home to roost' more prolifically when unemployed so to speak.
And yes, I'll start by saying you can learn these lessons while employed but if you haven't been unemployed (at least in the semi to long term) then I'm not sure you can speak with much authority on the topic. Yes, that means I believe my opinion on this subject is more reflective than my brothers or anyone else who hasn't really walked in the shoes of the unemployed. That would go for Obama too ...
1. Humility - About the time you start to get cocky, egotistical, arrogant or all of the above, being unemployed will change that in a hurry. It taught me that I'm not better than anyone else. In fact, while you are unemployed it can create doubts about whether you are as good as others. Humility is good in small doses and I'm not sure unemployment (at least extended unemployment) qualifies as a small dose. But unemployment will keep you humble for sure. The world revolves as it did when you were unemployed, the difference is you don't feel a part of it. It's moving without you and that's humbling.
2. Perseverance - When you want something, anything badly enough you will persevere to achieve it. But when you don't have a job and aren't earning money suddenly lots of things become things you want. Therefore your perseverance to find a job, make the money and get those things (maybe a vacation with family, a new couch for the living room, or that new skateboard your kid wants and earned by achieving great grades) that you "deserve" increase substantially. This represents the 'high' of being unemployed, when you're bullish and out in the market everyday meeting people, shaking hands and kissing babies. The opposite 'low' occurs when you wake up late one morning and find that the world is well into it's day, and you have absolutely nothing to do - no one to see, nothing to accomplish, no jobs to interview for, nothing. That's the low in the process.
3. Relationships are EVERYTHING - When you are deep within your normal life, off to job, home from work, pick up kids, doing family stuff on the weekend, it's easy to overlook the importance of those that are closest to you in your life. Your spouse, kids, dog, and best friends. But when you find yourself unemployed then those relationships become crucially important to keeping you on the high side of the highs and lows, and keeping you out of the low side of the highs and lows. They are the ones that will talk to you and care about you and what you are doing when you don't have a job. The other relationships you hold are just casual relationships that come and go.
4. Finances - You spend way too much on stupid stuff - When you're unemployed your finances are challenged. You invest more time in what you spend money on, as a means of trimming back a bit and making what you have go farther. It suddenly becomes really easy for you to see all the BS, the excess and the crazy shit you spend money on when you are employed. Unfortunately, it's hard to not let that stuff creep back in when you become re-employed. But you also realize the stuff that's really important, the best investments you can make regardless of how much you earn. For me that is my kids. Period.
5. Envy - You learn how wicked envy can be and how easily it can chew up any good you may see in others. When I was unemployed I thought to myself "they have this or that, I don't have this or that, they don't deserve it as much as I do". That's sad to say, but it's true. It's a corollary to humility but if you don't keep yourself in check the world can get to be a pretty dark place.
6. Appreciation - When become re-employed (which fortunately for me I have been able to) you don't take for granted getting a paycheck every couple of weeks. You don't take for granted how awesome "the grind" is of going to work, working hard, and earning a paycheck. It's routine, it's important, and it creates purpose in your daily life. I've been very lucky to rebound and find better opportunities every time I became unemployed for one reason or another. And each time I feel more and more blessed in being able to do so.
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