The Real F-Word

Hey y'all!

Can't believe it's been so long since I've posted (almost 3 months!) but life has been crazy hectic lately for a variety of reasons.

I turned 20 last month, moved into a new apartment about two weeks ago, gained one roommate and lost another, and quit both of my jobs after accepting an offer that was higher paying and gave me more work hours.

And then there's the F-word.

The FIRED word.

Yup. I quit my two existing jobs, and exactly a month after starting at my snazzy new workplace, I was  called into HR one morning and told that I just wasn't a good fit.

Though it was apparent to me from the get-go that my direct manager wasn't my biggest fan, I was in complete shock when I was dismissed out of nowhere.

I wasn't late even once, I followed policies to the letter, and I genuinely enjoyed my position.

I'd received compliments from my trainers and customers, and was told that what small mistakes i made were Ok because for the first 90 days I was still considered a trainee.

Unfortunately, in the state of California your first 90 days on the job are also considered a probationary period of employment, and at any point you can be dismissed without a reason why.

So that's exactly what happened.

My badge was taken, I was escorted out by security, and was asked to return the next day to turn in all of my uniforms and equipment.

So on three different levels, this sort of stinks.

A) I no longer have my old jobs.

B) I no longer have my new job

C) I now have to disclose on job applications that I was fired after 30 days at my previous employer

There truly is good and bad to every situation, however. 

Although the job would have provided me a really nice income and the environment was fun, it would have taken a lot of time away from school.

That being said, at the end of the day I would rather have a career years from now than a job that is just a job.

I've had an overwhelming amount of support from friends and family both in prayer and encouragement.

My dad has also offered to provide me with additional financial support while I search for a new job.

The best part of this, however, has been the peace that God has provided me with through the whole situation. 

From the drive home the day I got fired, I have been connected to Him in prayer and He has really provided my soul with comfort during this potentially stressful situation.

There is some scripture that's pretty well known concerning worry that I like to re-read whenever I find myself stressing.

Matthew 6:25-34

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

Nothing better than a reminder of how deeply God cares for us right?

But the Bible also says he who doesn't work doesn't eat- so where am I going from here?

With a new place and a $70 rent increase, sitting on my laurels isn't an option, regardless of the help I receive from others.

Obviously job hunting is a top priority, however exhausting it may be.

Though I spent a couple of weeks moving, celebrating my birthday, and recouping from the shock, I have gotten those wheels rolling again.

Though normally a job hunt for me is more a frantic scrambling than a conscious, intentional search for something I really want to do.

But since my resume is getting a little too crowded with short-term positions I am doing my best to be patient and only look at workplaces where I would enjoy working for a long haul.

I haven't had a whole lot of luck finding places that fit the bill, but yesterday I went to an open interview and got some really positive feedback from the manager who I spoke to.

Since there was such a large turnout, I don't expect to hear back until the end of this week at the earliest, but for now I am trying to generate a little income in the ways I know how.

I have some babysitting hours this week which is always nice, and I am trying to be very diligent about listing and selling on Ebay.

As I've explained before, I shop in thrift stores for for designer and quality items to resell on Ebay, and I have quite a bit of unsold stock right now.

I'm trying to take advantage of not having to pay anything out of pocket right now by clearing the excess that I've had sitting around, and so far I've gotten a few good sales in that I'd like to share. 

Here is what I sold my first week back online:

BCBG Max Azria Maxi Dress

Cost to me: $2.00

Sale Price: $25.49

Moulinette Soeurs Dress (New with tags)

Cost to me: $2.00

Sale Price: $26.00

St. John Sailor Stripe Knit Top

Cost to me: $2.95

Sale Price: $29.99

About 13% of my sales are taken out in Ebay and Paypal Fees, but after my out of pocket costs and fees, I still had about $63.00 in profits. 

Not bad for my first week and only a couple of hours listing!

Anyhow, I'd better hop off the computer- I have babies to sit on in the morning!

God Bless,

Madeline