Dating for Jobs

Last night I had two stressful dreams. In the first one I was fighting with my sister and woke up feeling stressed. In real life, I have been feeling neglected by her and so I guess that came through in my subconscious. In my second dream I was fighting with my husband and woke up again feeling stressed about that. Oy, I wish my mind could just RELAX, at least for sleep, but that is so difficult. I think us anxious folk have the 24/7, 365 days a year mind, which is why we are so darn tired. So today I slept in late (again) but I had to get up by 1230 because I volunteer. After getting laid off, I started volunteering at a retirement home every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:45-4:45 in the afternoon. Honestly, one of the best decisions I've ever made. It gives me something to do, something to look forward to, and a reason to get out of bed. I had been missing the volunteerism aspects of my life but always had an excuse why I didn't have enough time to do it or etc. Very lame excuses. That is by far the best thing that getting laid off has done for me- given me the swift kick in the butt and saying "Now you have NO excuse- so do it already." After volunteering, I got back into my car and looked at my phone and had one missed call from an unknown number and a voicemail. Every time I have seen this since getting laid off, I get a glimpse of hope and think "Maybe it's a job!" I listened and no, it was a sales pitch. The little glimmer fades. I think okay, now it has been two days this week that no potential employers have called me. I decided to venture to Michaels because I was planning to finish decorating a floral wreath for an upcoming fundraiser. I absolutely love doing floral arrangements- especially with artificial flowers since I have no green thumb. I wound up getting supplies and came home to crank out two really good wreaths- wow, I can be really quick and creative under stress! I still found myself unable to kick the blues that I had no 'leads' yet this week. I talked to my husband and explained how painfully process this entire process is to dating. I'm waiting by the phone, hoping for that call, and when I don't get it, my heart gets hurt. Also, being without employment makes you look back at your 'Ex' (last job) and shines them in a good light, thinking "Maybe I should call them again?" or you look at jobs you wouldn't have considered before and wonder if "maybe I should settle..." So, so, painfully similar to dating. I must remind myself that I survived dating and I can survive this.