Thank You…But Your Services Are Not Required At This Time…

I Have Been Laid Off…

Done. Finished. Out. Not fired, but at the same time, no longer needed.

After more years than I would care to admit, and with much left in me, the news has hit me like a ton of bricks. Not fired…not terminated…simply, let go. Left standing as if a monument to a bygone day, but certainly not required at this time. Empty, vacant and standing, but not of importance.

Oh Boy…

Over the course of time, each and everyone of us have been stunned by such an unwelcome message in our lives. But even in the comfort of knowing that I am not alone in being set aside, the stunning realization that the efforts of my most important endeavor are no longer required, are crushing nonetheless.

Done. Not required at this time. Perhaps with change you may be called back…

Being laid off was not a total shock, it wasn’t without warning. But when the day had finally come, with actions telegraphing the change in advance, I remained dumbfounded, frozen in my tracks without energy, direction or skill to do even the most basic of life’s skills – breathe, take a step, utter a word.

No longer needed…moving forward without me…. Ouch…

“Put Everything in to your work…Follow your passion….Whatever You Elect Do, Just Be The Best At It”. My entire life has followed those edicts. They were the foundations I was taught to build everything on. In return, each station that life provided, gave me the opportunity to practice my craft, perfect my skills, and in return, learn life’s experiences from acquaintance, friend and mentor alike. But none of those lessons, prepared me for this…

My son is a Man…Dad is not need at this time…Ouch.

It has been said, that “…when our children are little, they step on our toes, when they are older, they stomp on our hearts”. It is also said that if we as Parents have done our jobs properly, we will raise our children to be strong independent adults, to stand on thier own and not be dependant. Either way, or possibly both ways, the pain is the same.

I wasn’t ready to be laid off…

I wanted more…more golf matches…more “I don’t get it” conversations. More football Sundays and pots of chili…more let’s go stare at really cool cars…

Just More…

But as certain as any notice posted by Human Resources, life has now signaled my job as Dad is not required at this time. Perhaps there will be a change in direction in the future, perhaps I will be called back in a new role…but my position in life has now changed.

Laid off…With So Much More to Do.