Solid Advice

Oh man have I got a good one for you folks today.

On my way up to our home sweet home, I stopped to check the mail and saw a publication from the an association that supports teachers (for the record this post is in no way shape or form bashing teachers unions, this is a whole other blog in and of itself but I do want to note that the teacher's union I belong to is great and has done a ton for us this year). I find the 4 floor elevator ride very boring so I usually rip into the mail to give me something to do. Today I unfolded said publication and saw an article entitled: Getting Past the Pink Slip- RIF Survival Guide. While I understand this isn't a very pleasant topic, I figured I'd give it a glance seeing as how this is actually happening all over the teaching world and I still have 3 floors to travel before I'd be able to do anything else.

**Just to clarify, a RIF is a Reduction in Force and consists of a slip of paper that states your contract/position has been terminated, aka you've been fired.**

My eyes skipped straight to the bulleted items stating steps to take once you've been riffed. Good advice actually, make sure you'll still receive a paycheck until your current contract is up, file for unemployment (because the document you get is an official dismissal notice stating you are no longer employed, find health insurance, yah-dah yah-da.

1 floor to go at this point.

My eyes reach the very last paragraph which begins... Don't forget to do something fun and exciting. (heh?!) Remember that the current economic problems aren't aimed at you. Don't play the victim. Take time for yourself each day and grow as a person. Maybe consider a summer sport or read a book or begin meditating or something spiritual to help your self confidence. Make a promise to be a better person by Labor Day.

I paraphrased a bit and probably should cite this info. but who on earth wants to be attached to these words?!

The elevator door opens and I honestly can't bring myself to move. I do proceed to my home at the pace of a snail because I am, in fact, re-reading what I just read.

Are you kidding me? 

This is ridiculous, do something fun and exciting... it'll only be fun and exciting until you realize you just lost your job, then you're doing something fun and exciting and broke, in which case you'll start drinking, cheap drinks of course because you have to start saving your pennies, and then you'll be a broke drunk who also happens to be attempting something fun and exciting... awesome

Grow as a person, consider a sport... you'll have to grow while playing sports that are free because you don't have a job, no worries though the free community league sports alway attract supportive people who will in fact assist you in your path to personal growth

Meditate or do something spiritual... so you then become a loony-bin that doesn't care they don't have a job or make money because somewhere the stars are aligned and the universe will take care of you... works every time for sure. Then, if those stars are aligned just right and you actually get called back for a job you turn it down because you've now found your spiritual side... how can you go wrong

And then they throw in the real kicker... the mother of all things that are wise and ever so enlightening... promise to be a better person by Labor Day... you.just.can't.make.this.up. 

I actually laughed out loud in our hallway and there was a woman taking out trash who was looking at me kind of funny... can't say I blame her.

Solid advice people who support teachers, absolutely solid.