Blog Post: Do Not Panic!

The Holidays are coming and some of you who write to me are panicking now.  You’re unemployed and don’t know what to do.  This is going to be a lean holiday for many of you, with fewer presents under whatever you call the large green object decorated with tiny lights, etc. that sits in your living room (trying to be politically correct, here).

This is actually a good thing.  We’ve gotten far too attached to “stuff” and far too little attached to one another.  We’ve made the Holidays about “showing our love” with our wallets instead of our arms and mouths and brains.  I’m sick of the merchants hawking their wares and making us feel like we’re responsible if we don’t run up thousands on the charge cards to support their poor business decisions.  Well, this year, many of you can’t run up your credit cards. 

And I say again, this is a good thing.  It is about time that the liars and crooks on Madison Avenue stopped telling us that how much money we spend on a “gift” is any indication whatsoever of how much we love someone.  I can show “mom” how much I “really love her” without a diamond bracelet, thank you.

So — what to do if you can’t afford presents this year because of unemployment?  Thank whatever power you believe in that you have your family.  Instead of buying presents, give some money to the Salvation Army or other fine organizations who feed, house and clothe people in far worse shape than you are.  Look in on your sleeping children and your beloved spouse and thank whatever power you believe in that they are alive and well and with you.

Think, on your Holiday evening or morning, of our troops who are far away from home and their beloved families, and hope (and pray, if you do that) with me that next Holiday they’ll be home with their families and, hopefully, with all of their arms, legs and other body parts.  Hope (and pray) with me that the senselessness of war throughout the world will cease and that we’ll have a world at peace.

Be grateful that you have things to eat, even if they’re not as fancy as last year.  Many people, even in America , don’t.  And remember that, even if you’re in financial trouble, as terrible as that is (I know, I’ve been there in the past, too), that you live better than 90% of the rest of the world.  Take a deep breath and believe that it will be OK.  There are jobs, and you’ll find one.

Maybe this financial crisis that our country is in will finally end the greed, the dishonesty, and the belief that one’s net worth financially tells us anything about their worth as a person.  Perhaps we’ll stop glorifying corruption and greed.  Perhaps we’ll stop lionizing people like Trump and the other narcissists who have helped to get us into this mess.  And perhaps we’ll realize that we, too, are partially responsible for the financial mess because we’ve kept silent as TV and various politicians and loud-mouthed pundits made fun of those having a hard time and glorified those who amassed wealth, regardless of the human cost.

And take a look at your lifestyle and that of your neighbors.  Ask if all of the stuff has made you a happier person, a better person, a more compassionate person.  If not, maybe it is time to re-evaluate.

And maybe, just maybe, the true meaning of this time of the year will shine out, and you will have peace in your hearts, minds and spirits.  Having our own inner serenity is necessary for world peace, you know.  The wars which have torn our world, while declared by the politicians, have been started in our own hearts.  If we live in fear, hate, and greed, we are responsible for the war-torn world, and for the financial crisis.

The true meaning of this time isn’t what you have in the bank or under the (tree/whatever).  It is the Light that is in the world and lights us all.

Practically, we know well that there are things that need to be done to get you employed.  We are, with the cooperation of Jobing.com, putting on a free class for those who are unemployed in early January.  Watch this blog for the exact date.  We will cover résumés, cover letters, networking, job boards, and interviewing.  Absolutely, positively nothing will be sold or solicited at this event — nothing.  My colleagues, Jaclyne Barrett (extensive experience in HR), Nicole Heckers (Life and Career Coach for over 10 years), Sonia Evans (employment and business law, and certified coach) and I (with over 28 years of experience in helping people with their careers) will do what we can to assist you in finding a job.  Again…nothing is promoted at all, nothing is sold.  Watch for the date in early January in the next week.

I encourage everyone to, in the spirit of this season, give as much as possible.  Help one another find jobs.  Network with each other.  Invite one another to dinner (even if it is just some soup and bread).  Form a community again.

For years now, in America , we have set people against each other.  It is time now to pull people together.  With the financial crash an era of America came to an end.  We are about to start a new one, for which many of us are very thankful.  Let’s make this era of America one where we help each other out, care about each other, and stop chasing the Almighty Dollar so hard that we forget to love and appreciate one another.

May each of you, whichever Holiday you celebrate, have a blessed and peaceful one.  And be at peace within yourselves.  It will all be well, and all manner of things will be well.

May there be Peace on Earth and goodwill to all.

J.

John Heckers, MA, CPC , BCPC, is a Transition Coach in Cherry Creek.  He welcomes your emails at jheckers@heckersdevgroup.com.  His colleague, Jaclyne Barrett , MHR , is also a Transition Coach in Cherry Creek with extensive coaching and Human Resources experience.  She welcomes your email at jbarrett@heckersdevgroup.com.