Downsizing is Life Changing

Many others have experienced sitting at their desk working, or operating a machine as they have done for years when they are unexpectedly call the main office or the owner's office.  It happened to me on Monday, October 18, 1993.    The previous week over one-hundred workers had been "downsized" out of their jobs.  This year many are being subjected to the same dreadful experience.

I took the elevator to the top floor and asked to be directed to the Vice President of Personnel.  The Secretary gave me directions and smiled in a compassionate manner.  My stomach started tightening and a certain fear came over me that this was not good.  Would I be next, to be downsized?  The office was large and luxurious with a man I knew behind the desk.  There were tissue boxes on each front corner of the desk.   An awkward smile showed on our faces during a long silence.  The Vice President told me what an outstanding record I had with the company; however our division was being spun off and the corporation was too small to use my services anymore.  To show there appreciation I was being given a handsome severance package and allowed to seek other employment while staying with the company until May 1994.  They had also hired an outsourcing company to assist the 184 of us that didn't retire or could not be placed elsewhere in the company.  That bit of information offered little comfort at that terrifying moment.

Thank God I never gave up my pursuit of education.   I was taught by my parents to believe in myself and in my dreams.  Life is a wonderful journey in which anything is possible.  With God's blessings I earned my BS in Historic Preservation at age 60.  I celebrated reaching my goal of finishing my college education in 2004.   Today, I greatly appreciate my family, my church and all the people who enriched the quality of my life and encouraged me in my pursuit of completing my undergraduate degree.  

have enjoyed working part time as a docent in museums and as a substitute teacher.  Children are amazing and they teach me as much as I teach them.  Most children enjoy life unconditionally and celebrate every moment of their day.

How much and how often do you celebrate in your own life-on your job, in your home? We should look for reasons to celebrate. We can get so serious and so focused that we forget to say, "Hey, you've done a great job; let's bring in pizza this afternoon and celebrate." Or "You've been working so hard, you deserve a treat; the ice cream is on me-let's go celebrate." 

A festivity doesn't have to cost a great deal of money-or any money at all.  A celebration can be something as simple as complimentary words spoken, to a card or a note in the mail, cake or cookies, to a full-blown party. There are so many creative ways to celebrate, and Jesus was always ready to do so because He knew the value of celebrations.  They bring enjoyment to people and make us happy.