My company had lay offs.  Several people’s last day is this Friday.  I am sad and feel guilty for having my own job.  I have tried to help them as best I can with offering letters of reference, help with resume writing and cover letter writing.  (I’m an English teacher.)  I’ve offered tissues and emotional support as people have cried and talked about job options, fear, and stress.

I had some concern that I could lose my job, so felt immense relief when I did not get the call into the boss’s office on the day of lay offs.  Then I felt guilty for that relief.  Who am I to still have a job when perfectly hard-working other people now do not?  The whole thing just makes me so sad.

My prayers and positive thoughts go out to all those struggling with this problem right now.  I have been there and truly know how it feels…the fear, the concern, the doubt, the questions of self-worth…

A pay check does not define self-worth.  Another person’s opinion does not define our worth.  A good review, a bad review, a positive appraisal, a crappy appraisal…they are just snapshots – neither accurate nor truth, merely opinion.  I need this pep talk as much as the next person.  The opinion I value most is my own:  my own conscience, sense of ethics, peace of mind…no one can take those away from me.