Sometime During the Great Recession...
I stopped commuting to NYC for work, something I had done for close to 20 years.
Suddenly I had an extra 3 hours a day. I could do things I previously could do only on weekends and holidays; like eating a real breakfast at home and watching
sunlight fill the kitchen in the morning.
That's when I realized: career change is an opportunity for personal as well as professional growth.
Within 2 months I began courses in Historic Preservation, a lifelong interest.
Within 6 months I adopted the puppy I had always wanted.
Within 9 months I expanded my network in my local and regional community.
Within 16 months I learned to fly fish...and caught a trout.
Within 12 months I volunteered for local non profit organizations.
Within 18 months I faced a fear and started dressage lessons.
Within 24 months I began work in non profit development.
When the real numbers of the Great Recession started circulating we did the math.
"Well if it's 10 percent, then that's one out of every 10 houses, give or take."
And we stood on the sidewalk and with our fingers paced up and down each side of the street and counted the houses and the people we knew.
And sure enough, for every 10 houses there was at least one professional recently unemployed. In some homes there were two.
A surgeon, a marketing VP, an IT specialist, a master carpenter, a banking executive, a copywriter.
The Great Recession hit my neighborhood.
Neighbors were transforming their lives in new ways while they managed the challenges of the recession. Through them, I saw that when managed well,
unemployment can be an opportunity for great individual growth, a chance to focus, affirm one's goals, career strategy and start anew.
About Me, About the Images
At first glance I'm sure you thought "What do these images have to do with a story on Managing the Recession?" Actually, quite a bit, since they are almost a kind of personal record. After more than 20 years of commuting to the city by train, and long days spent inside, the end of the commute meant the opening of new doors....litterally heading to the outdoors. That includes daily hikes on the tow path, weeekly visits to the barn to ride and groom the horses, and of course walking my wonderful puppy. I hope viewing these images, gives one the chance to experience a bit of the 'aha', to think "I never looked at it that way before." Which is exactly what we all should do when faced with challenges like the Great Recession.