Silver linnings/good vibes thread

[Sonata]

Hello ! It has been ages since I've been active here. I don't quite remember how long it has been, but a lot has happened in the last couple years. I want this thread to be a good vibes thread, and I believe we all need this, now more than ever. So, I know this will be long, but do read until the end.

I worked in a stationery shop, managing a small print shop inside it. This lasted for about 3 years. I eventually found a job in the printing industry afterwards and worked there for a year, learned a lot, did a lot of stuff, met a wonderful person who is now a very dear friend of mine. And then the lockdown happened in March and we all had to stay home. Insecurities about the future started, I wondered when things would go back to "normal" and I would be able to go back to work, etc. Turns out, the company couldn't keep everyone, since printing orders just weren't happening. They had to cut in costs, and the easiest way to do that is always by cutting staff. And I was one of those to be made redundant.

Meanwhile, my grandpa was facing health difficulties back in my home country. My family were suffering and I could do nothing about it. I felt helpless.

I lost my job at the end of July. I was devastated, angry, sad, frustrated, worried, fearful about the future. Mentally speaking, I was a mess. My husband was always there by my side, supporting me, telling me to carry on. I started an online course in something completely different, as a means of maybe in the future having something else to try. More knowledge and new skills that could maybe land me a job. I am still doing this course as I type this and I do not regret it at all. However, I still needed a job, fast.

I looked at several options, applied for so many things. Hardly got any answers back. Got a lot of rejections. Time was passing by and I didn't quite know what else to do. Right now, due to the crisis in the world, companies are struggling and people are loosing their jobs. Hardly noone is hiring. How could I possibly make it?

In the middle of all this, my landlords then told us the possibility of maybe putting the flat for sale. Of course, there are never any guarantees when it comes to selling property, but it was yet something else looming in the back of our heads: what will happen to us if I don't get a job and the flat sells faster than expected? Where will we go?

But then, I got recomended to someone else in the printing industry, in a different company. Somebody noticed me at my old job and wanted to help me. Went out of their way to help me. I was not expecting that, ever. I didn't know how to react. I felt so grateful, it was unreal. Even if the job didn't happen, I felt less invisible.

I got in touch with this person, we exchanged information and I was thrilled when I was invited to an interview. This was last Friday. It was make or break, I had to land this job. I just had to. After the interview, I was asked to do a trial day. Of course I agreed; I couldn't wait to show them the skills I had mastered over the years. So, after the longest weekend ever and a pretty much sleepless night, I went yesterday to do the trial day.

I tried so hard. I did everything I could under the sun to show them how efficient I was, how quick I did things and how quick I learned. I worked very hard. Did everything I could and more. After a few hours, I was offered the job with a pay increase on what I was earning before, as well as much better working hours.

I could've cried. But I didn't, instead I smiled a lot, thanked them a lot and felt a huge boulder being released off my shoulders, off of my mind and felt a huge, immense relief. I felt like I belonged there, I liked the whole vibe of the place and the people I met. I felt recognized. Valued. I love print and knowing that I can make a carreer out of it made me feel like it was all worth it. All the hardships, the despair, the feeling of uselessness and helplessness. I was no longer invisible. I was seen and valued and needed. It felt incredible.

I start on September 1st. And this whole journey has made me decide a few things that will shape myself as a person and as a professional.

I studied art and tried for the longest time to make it out there. Tried to get into the animation industry, gaming or something else entirely, as long as I could contribute with character development or the likes of that. I tried my hand at comics. I tried logo design. I started to learn digital painting. I never really made it. I did some freelance work in the past, but I always pressured myself so much to become a better artist, produce more and increase my standards to the impossible that I got to a point of burning out. I wasn't enjoying doing art anymore. It all felt like a huge mountain to surpass and I felt like I would take two lifetimes to actually become the standard I wanted for myself. And now, after such a long time, I finally am ready to say I no longer wish to pursue art professionaly. I found myself in print and wish so hard to know more and become better at it. It is time to go and do just that.

I can say for certain I could've never done this a few years ago. I was clinging to art so hard, as it was the only thing I knew I was good at and had room to improve on. But now, after a lot of thinking and a lot of life experiences, I feel at peace for coming to this conclusion. I feel like great things are to come still. I feel like I can now enjoy doing art for it's own sake, for myself and for my friends, without any pressure. I feel like I can finally enjoy life at it's fullest, after a lifetime of trying to find my way in this big scary world. I can finally let go of the pressure I put myself under the whole of my life.

In this time of uncertainty, someone gave me a chance. My grandpa is feeling miles better, my family have got a bit less to worry about and me and my husband are considering either buying this flat or at least think of buying a flat around here in the next few years.

Change is a scary thing. The world right now is scary. We don't know what will happen, nobody does. All we can do is carry on the best we can. But there are always blessings in desguise and there is always something to be grateful for.

I write this the day after I got hired. A day that I will gift to myself to find myself again, ground myself, and remember the things I love the most. This is also why I am here, in this forum, sharing my experience.

So, thank you for reading this far. I hope this gives you hope, too. It is now up to you to continue this thread. Please share some good vibes and let's all support eachother!

[Griffin]

Thank you, this was such an uplifting read! And major congrats on landing a new job!

I am currently unemployed too and have been for quite some time, but I have very good benefits so I'm not struggling financially, thank goodness. But I totally get what you mean by the need to feel recognised and valued. I have really struggled with feelings of insecurity and worthlessness lately (on top of that, I feel like I don't really deserve the money I get because there aren't many jobs I can apply to but weeeeelllll). Today I'm in a much better headspace, thankfully.

We can do this!

[dragglereeka]

Thankyou so much for sharing your personal story. It's really given me some hope
I'm an artist too, I paint nearly every day but have never sold anything. I need to encourage myself to branch out and sell more stuff with my artwork printed on (example, like face masks you see on Etsy.)
For many years I've struggled with my PTSD  effecting everything I do.  But I know I'm headed towards the right track now I feel much happier day to day which is an achievement! I think we should all set ourselves a goal to be happy, that's the most important thing   

[Sonata]

Thank you, this was such an uplifting read! And major congrats on landing a new job!

I am currently unemployed too and have been for quite some time, but I have very good benefits so I'm not struggling financially, thank goodness. But I totally get what you mean by the need to feel recognised and valued. I have really struggled with feelings of insecurity and worthlessness lately (on top of that, I feel like I don't really deserve the money I get because there aren't many jobs I can apply to but weeeeelllll). Today I'm in a much better headspace, thankfully.

We can do this!

I am so glad you liked the read ! And yes, we can do this !!! Really wanted to share my story to help others, I am very pleased it did, even a little bit




Post Merge: September 12, 2020, 08:43:30 AM

Thankyou so much for sharing your personal story. It's really given me some hope
I'm an artist too, I paint nearly every day but have never sold anything. I need to encourage myself to branch out and sell more stuff with my artwork printed on (example, like face masks you see on Etsy.)
For many years I've struggled with my PTSD  effecting everything I do.  But I know I'm headed towards the right track now I feel much happier day to day which is an achievement! I think we should all set ourselves a goal to be happy, that's the most important thing   

Definitely, happiness is the key to everything. Everything else comes second, really. I am so happy this has given you some hope We should all stick together and help eachother, so I am very, very pleased this somehow helped a bit