When in Doubt, Send a Hallmark

Hallmark recently unveiled a new line of greeting cards targeted at soothing the unemployment woes of recently displaced workers.  Yes, that's right.  When your dad, neighbor or best buddy loses his/her job, you can send some much-needed cheer, courtesy of the cardmakers who supposedly care.  Categorized under the company's "Loss of Job" section, as found at your local stationery store, sympathetic shoppers can choose from up to eight different selections of recession- and layoff-themed cards (http://www.hallmark.com/occasion/encouragement/loss-of-job).

 

Creative soul I am, even I could not make this stuff up.  Giving Hallmark the extreme benefit of the doubt for a very brief moment, I'm tempted to say that this new card line is possibly well-intentioned and probably harmless.  After all, isn't sending a greeting card with a kindly note a genuine show of support for the unfortunate?  Hallmark does have a card for every occasion -- or so it seems -- so why draw the line at job loss?  Maybe it's me, but somehow a handwritten letter with one's own sentiments seems more sincere. 

Personally, I suspect that this marketing ploy has less to do with compassion for the currently unemployed and more to do with attempting to boost sales.  Call me a cynic, but I can't believe big business has a big heart.  It's may be a good thing for Hallmark employees as this latest line may very well keep some copywriters, graphic designers, printers, et cetera, off the unemployment line, as card sales have declined of late.  And it's probably a good thing for Hallmark as this latest card line will surely generate some revenue.  All indications point toward the line's success, so perhaps Hallmark does have a winner here.

While I'm not at all certain that I'd welcome an influx of job loss-related greeting cards in my mailbox, others may be thrilled to receive them.  According to an online article published by a Colorado-based NBC affiliate, Lost Your Job, There's a Card for That (http://www.9news.com/money/221309/344/Lost-your-job-Theres-a-card-for-that), job loss greetings may actually cheer and inspire recipients.  Just ask jobless outreach worker, Michelle Crowthers of Work One, who believes that receiving such a card in the mailbox may actually motivate a displaced worker.  "Getting a card like that and somebody caring is fabulous," said Crowthers.  "At least someone's caring enough to, you know, get a card and say 'I'm thinking of you.'"

Humanity, Humility, and a Helping Hand

For varied and personal reasons, I made a personal vow nearly two years ago to help the homeless as well as children with cleft palate.  It's a vow I've recently renewed, despite being unemployed at present time.  Regardless of my personal and/or financial circumstances, the bottom line is that the need for action still remains on behalf of those who need assistance the most.  So I'm back on board with my vow, hoping to extend a helping hand in whatever way I can.

                                   

But how?  Since I'm living on a limited budget these days, I cannot contribute as much financially as I normally would.  This is not to say that I won't make the occasional modest cash donation.  In any event, my thoughts have turned to creative ways in which I can help without reaching too far into my wallet.  So for starters, I've decided to utilize this blog as a springboard, along with other social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, et cetera.).  The purpose of today's entry is simply to raise awareness of my personal mission.  For readers who'd like to contribute to these causes, obviously I'd be forever grateful, and I've included a few links to the right of this blog under the banner of Homeless Outreach / Cleft Palate Relief Effort -- but that's as far as I'll go with any financial appeals.  There's nothing I despise more than constant hit-ups for cash-for-causes, so I refuse to be that annoying person.

Of course, cash will carry only so far, so I also want to be physically proactive with my mission.  The obvious outlet is to volunteer at the local thrift shop where my mother hangs her hat three days a week for several hours at a clip.  The thrift shop serves the under-served in my community as well as those experiencing financial difficulties who are in need of clothing or small household items at discounted rates.  I've been toying with the idea of volunteering for the past couple of months now, so I may very well make it a reality. 

The reason why I decided to revive this mission was because it recently occurred to me that I've been writing a lot lately about the unemployment situation, job search tips, and other assorted miscellaneous subject matter.  While these topics are interesting and relevant to many, the fact still remains that it's Pensive Proofreader-centered and all about me, my job search, and the occasional random observation -- which may not necessarily be a good thing.  I'd like to think my ego is a healthy one, but there are times when it's necessary for a quick status/reality check and this is one of those times.  Yes, I need a job, but then again, so do millions of unemployed  people.  I am not unique.  Quite the opposite, actually.  I have the same need(s) as many others.  What I am is actually quite fortunate -- a fact which I tend to forget at times.  I live in a home which is heated in the winter and cool in the summer.  There's food on the table.  There's clean water in which to bathe and wash dishes.  So far, I've been able to meet my financial obligations despite being out of work.  So I really am blessed.  But the fact remains that others are not as fortunate.  So if I can help them, I will.  This is not just a blog entry.  It's a vow.

Before drawing the curtain on today's entry, I wanted to include the Facebook status that a friend posted this morning as it's timely and relevant.  It's also a good reminder, not just to the unemployed masses, but to all people that it's crucial to stay motivated even when it seems as if circumstances are conspiring against you.  I hope this passage speaks to you as it did me, and as you read it, please remember the less fortunate, many of whom have completely lost hope.  Even though you may feel discouraged for whatever reason, please keep moving in their honor. 

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit. 

                                             -- Author Unknown

A Possible Plan B

During this unfortunate lapse of employment, I've thought about volunteering in my local community. I've also considered joining the Peace Corps, and I'd rather far rather be a freelancer than a freeloader.  But what about pursuing an internship?

It's not as if I haven't interned in the past.  As a college graduate, my first foray into the professional world was as an intern in the news department of a local adult contemporary radio station.  It was your standard issue internship: early morning, unpaid, and not particularly glamorous.  I assisted my supervisor/mentor by phoning local police and fire departments at precisely 5 a.m. to determine if any newsworthy stories had occurred during the wee hours of the morning.  I also arranged for election result returns with local school districts. I clipped news of the odd from local papers for potential on-air usage, monitored the Associated Press wire with a vengeance, and performed with a smile any other clerical chores that the rest of the regular, full-time staff refused to touch.

While I'm not altogether certain I'd be willing to intern again as I really need health benefits and a decent enough paycheck to foot the bills, the notion of displaced workers tackling internships at what usually is the mid-level trajectory of their careers isn't too far-fetched.  According to Maggie Galehouse's 2009 article in the Houston Chronicle, Here's a Plan B for the Unemployed: Try Internship First (http://www.chron.com/life/article/Here-s-a-Plan-B-for-unemployed-try-internship-1747123.php), an internship may actually be an ideal scenario for laid-off employees who want to explore new career options while keeping their skills fresh and relevant.  It's a professional trend which is continuing to grow and is reaching a range of personnel, from the recent college graduate to the seasoned worker.  Internships aren't just for displaced employees either.  They're also a sensible idea for homemakers or caregivers who've been away from the workplace for awhile or for those who want to test the realistic waters of a supposed dream career.

Laura Casey, scribe for the Chicago Tribune, concurs that mid-career internships can come in handy, especially for displaced workers desperately in need of a new professional direction.  In her October 2011 article, Mid-Career Job-Seekers Turn to Internships, Volunteer Positions (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-10-24/business/ct-biz-1024-midcareer-interns-20111024_1_internships-career-change-midcareer-professionals), Casey cites the case of Jagpal Mandaher, an experienced commercial aviator who found himself out of a job when the travel industry slumped shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Mandaher kept his cool, remained practical, and tackled a ten-month paid internship at Sensitel Inc. with a vengeance, eventually landing a full-time position with the firm in their finance department.  In the end, the internship proved to be an invaluable experience for Mandaher, who interned in several departments at the Sensitel organization before finding the right professional fit.  "I actually learned a lot," he said.  "The internship helped me realize I felt more comfortable in a financial analyst role than I would've felt in accounting."

While Mandaher's internship experience proved to be a positive one, there is a downside to interning.  While an internship can consist of invaluable, practical experience which may very well give a displaced worker a much-needed inside track to a regular, full-time position, there are no guarantees of permanent employment once the internship concludes.  Regrettably, interns are expendable, and for the displaced worker who overextends himself/herself with effort during an internship, it's a gamble which may or may not pay off.  No health benefits are offered -- an absolute necessity for some.  And in some cases, interning can even jeopardize unemployment benefits.  As the Laura Casey article points out, displaced workers receiving unemployment insurance must always be ready, willing, and able to accept traditional employment, so if the internship impedes that availability, it could be an issue.  For-profit organizations could also find themselves in hot water for not extending a training wage, an act which could result in having to pay interns minimum wage in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

But for those who are willing to take the risk and ready to roll up their sleeves at an internship, it could very well be an ideal short-term solution to their unemployment woes.  And it could possibly result in a job offer.  It's a risk, but could be a worthwhile one, so it only seems appropriate to quote our friends at the New York State Lottery here by saying, "Hey, you never know."

A Pensive Constitutional

I've been working hard at staying motivated during this unfortunate lapse of employment, spending much quality time at the boardwalk.  My motivation is actually two-fold.  I walk for my health -- not just my physical health, but also, my mental health.  It keeps me fit and focused, and it also takes my mind off my troubles.  When I'm walking by the water, I feel energized, eager, and alert.  I want to send resumes, I want to blog with the best of 'em, and I can't wait to tackle household projects.  I'm ready to take on the world -- a feeling which, unfortunately, doesn't always follow me home.  But it sure feels good while it lasts.

As I walk, I also people-watch.  I usually briefly fixate on a face and attach (in my mind) a supposed name and backstory to that person.  It's good exercise for the imagination as well as the body.  Occasionally, peoples' identities are inadvertently revealed as they stop and greet family, friends or neighbors on the boardwalk and are greeted in return, often by name.  In any event, all this brings to mind my recent encounter with a man I privately dubbed as the "Mayor of Town".

I was in good spirits that day.  It was sunny, the breeze was gentle, and the radio airwaves were filled with lively and inspiring tunes on the drive over.  I had never realized just how motivational a tune ELO's Don't Bring Me Down is until that day.  (I also pondered the identity of the mysterious Bruce referenced in the song, but according to the good folks at Wikipedia, that's another story for another day.)  I parked down at the far end of the boardwalk and began my trek, eager to move.

As I strode, I took note of my fellow walkers.  The elderly couple taking things slow.  The trio of bicyclists.  Best friends laughing and joking.  New mothers pushing their baby carriages at an enviable clip.  College students, retirees, and seemingly unemployed souls like myself, strolling and striving to stay motivated.  The one thing that appeals to me most about the boardwalk is that it is such an equalizer.  There are all walks of life to be found on a boardwalk.  Everyone congregates in that one place for some version of the same purpose -- a pensive constitutional -- but everyone moves by way of their own method, by their own motivation, and at their own proper pace.  There is, after all, no singular way to walk on a boardwalk.  It's an individual thing. 

The Mayor of Town appeared midway through my walk at the main entrance, laughing and joking with two fellow cronies.  He was nondescript in appearance, probably in his early 60s.  I never learned his name.  I just nicknamed him the Mayor of Town on account of his demeanor -- friendly and outgoing.  This man seemed to know just about everyone he passed and if he could've shaken hands and kissed babies, politico-style, he would've done it.  I prefer solitude when strolling, so I tried not to make eye contact, but there was something intriguing about the Mayor of Town, something to learn about him and something to be learned from him.  It may have been his impressive stamina as he walked.  Many people in his age group aren't physically able to keep his impressive pace.  Perhaps it was his friendly, positive demeanor as he very much seemed to be a man of the people, stopping and chatting with many as he made his way down the boardwalk.  But I believe the most impressive thing about the Mayor of Town was his sheer love for the great outdoors.  It was easy to see that he was basking in his seaside surroundings, loving the fresh air as well as the freedom that comes from being out in it. 

I am in awe and envy of this energetic, exuberant gentleman.  He will never know this, of course, but whomever this man may be, he is an inspiration.