One Year Later

One year ago today I lost my first advertising job. The job I toiled two years to land and only enjoyed for nine months before it was gone. So much has happened in the months since that day. So much pain, darkness and uncertainty. But also a remarkable amount of opportunity -- not just in terms of finding work or making money. I'm speaking of opportunity to find something great within myself.

In late 2008 and early 2009 I lost everything I held dear to me. I lost my job. I lost the one I was with. I lost my home. In a matter of months I experienced a full regression. I ended up single, unemployed and living at my parent's. Life: 3 Ego: -1,000.

The biggest challenge I faced was landing a new job in one of the worst economies on record. One might think resurrecting my relationship would be priority #1, but, alas, the damage was done. You can't un-light a fire. You can only watch it consume what surrounds it until it finally dies. And die it did. The job hunt, on the other hand, had to continue. It was getting so depressing and competitive that I was seriously considering leaving the country to teach English abroad and earn some cash.

February was a terrible time in my life. But by the time March came around I had collected myself. My family and friends were holding me up. I started writing a graphic novel with two friends just to keep myself occupied when I wasn't looking for work. At the time it really wasn't anything more than a creative exercise to keep my soul alive. Well, by the time April was over the book was written and now after a long summer and fall of searching for an artist it looks like we're picking up steam on trying to present it to the world. I can't wait.

In May I interviewed with a company I interned for in college. Two days later I was offered a job. My hunt for work ended on May 18 -- my first day. Six months and four days of searching, calling and hoping finally ended. I've learned so much in the six months since getting hired, both professionally and about myself. I no longer measure the success of my life by what society deems important -- having a job, getting married THE RIGHT WAY (whatever that is), starting a family and so on. My life is no measured by what I consider to matter -- my family and friends. Supporting the people who supported me when they now need it. I measure my success by what fulfills me, not how I compare to how others live. I'm living my own life. My job pays the bills. I'm finally having fun again. I'm actually pretty happy.

In the year since losing the 'American Dream' I have accomplished the following:

- finished a novel with two friends
- gotten a new job
- traveled to Canada and advanced in what I love, capoeira. I also met some incredible new friends
- started teaching capoeira
- got featured in InkKC magazine

Not bad for a guy who had nothing a year ago. Not bad. Thanks again to everyone who helped me during that time. You know who you are, and I would have been lost without you. It feels good to be in the other side.