The job hunt continues, and after two months, I find myself searching, not just for the next paycheck or the stability of health insurance for my family once severance runs out, but also for clarity on how I still matter.
We all want to do work that leaves a mark. There are so many ways to do that:
- through the organizations we’re part of
- in how we show up for our families and friends
- in what we contribute to our communities
As I sift through roles and opportunities, I’m increasingly drawn to positions that promise purpose as much as a paycheck, roles that offer fulfillment, not just enrichment.
Ron Charles captured this emotional crossroads beautifully in a recent Substack essay reflecting on his own layoff from The Washington Post and his quest to still feel that he matters. He opens with a line that hit me hard:
“In the afternoons, I’m an independent writer with a dream. At 3:47 a.m., I’m an unemployed journalist with a mortgage. The first week, I lost 10 pounds. It turns out that being laid off is like Ozempic administered via email.”
That mix of humor and honesty feels painfully familiar. For what it’s worth, I’m now lighter than when I got married and also joined my former employer nearly 25 years ago, but I’m also lighter in another way: carrying less illusion about permanence, and more appreciation for meaning.