Rejection hurts.
For the umpteenth time in the past 4 years, I was rejected for yet another job. The reason: I’m over-qualified. I don’t understand what that means but there it is. I don’t know what we’re going to do as a family. There is no money to pay the bills, just what little my hubby brings in on disability. There is no doubt my faith is being tested, my sanity is frayed, and my heart and soul are in pain.
This may be true, dear Wesley, but we all need something to make us feel worthwhile, to feel needed and special. And like it or not, we all need money to pay the bills so we don’t end up living on the streets, which is where my family is heading if I don’t land a job soon.
To keep myself from feeling like a complete and utter failure, I did a little reflecting and thought about things that would make me happy instead of sad. When I left the hospital the other day from seeing my mother-in-law (who I love dearly and is suffering from dementia and C-Diff), hubby and I drove around looking for things to inspire me and my writing. There just happens to be this awesome affluent neighborhood near the hospital so we took an hour tour.
Here are some places and things that lifted my spirits and set my dreams in motion.
If I’m not mistaken, the above house was once owned (or is still owned) by Hulk Hogan.
Willadel Drive is a big horse shoe drive. There are two of these gargoyles poised at both entrances to the drive. So cool.
Down the road a ways was this sprawling mansion that looks directly out onto the bay. I’m standing in the narrow (not for sale) lot across the street and still couldn’t get the whole picture.
And check out this sweet Victorian home. Love, love, love.
A mile or so down the road, I stumbled upon this beauty. Look at that amazing staircase to the front door. I think it was the reflection of the sky and the clouds in that amazing front door that inspired me the most when I took this shot.
We then took a ride out to the beachside. I wanted to see how baseball’s Ryan Howard’s house was coming along. We turned down a short cul-de-sac where we spotted this beauty. It’s for sale. I fell in love with the upstairs balcony. I can imagine sitting there and looking out onto the Gulf of Mexico, watching the sunset. *sigh*
Not too far away were these happy dolphins smiling and leaping away in a front yard. They made my heart happy.
And then, there was Ryan Howard’s monstrous creation:
I posted about this home a year ago. You can read it here. I would LOVE to take a tour of this place when it’s completed. Breathtaking, huh? And the Gulf of Mexico is just behind that house.
I am in awe. I’m inspired. I have faith that someday I will have a home as big and wonderful for all my friends and family to come stay. I have faith someday I will have enough money that I will never have to worry about losing my home, or deciding between food or medicine. I have faith that someday I will have enough money to take a family with nothing and put them in a home, help mom/dad or both find a job and give them and their family peace of mind.
Someday, I will be able to care for and provide for those I love. Until then, I will do my best to brush off the rejections and take time to reflect on those things that are important while striving to reach my goal. I will continue to seek inspiration and lend it when I can. Life is too short to be sad.
What is your inspiration? What do you do to keep constant rejection from getting to you?
YA Chit Chat 
Hugs. I know how tough it is. As a single mother of two living on disability, it’s rough. There’s been some times I’ve had to, like you said, choose between meds and food.
LikeLike
Hi Jenny. Sad to hear about your troubles find a job. One piece of advice I find useful when applying for jobs is to tailor the resume and application letter to the job. If it means “dumbing down” (for want of a better term) the application to get your foot in the door then maybe that’s what you need to do. I know pride might be an obstacle for going down this path but if it increases your chances? Similarly in the interview when they ask about your role in past jobs, tone down the responsibilities and acheivements. Make it fit what they are looking for but keep it credible and appealling. It’s a fine line, unfortunately. Good luck!
LikeLike
Thanks, Richard. I think that’s what I’m going to have to do. Used to be employers wanted the guy with the skills. They thought they were getting a bigger bang for their buck. Now, I don’t know what it is. All I know is my resume is dumbed down as ‘dumb’ as I can take it. Some jobs I didn’t even attach a resume. Some applications I put ‘retired’. Still no bites. It is very frustrating to say the least. And I always tailor my resume, using exact words from the ads. Then I get generic e-mail rejections: thank you but no thank you. We’re going to focus on applicants more qualified for the position. This AFTER I just tailored my entire resume to suit what they asked for. I’m about to pull my hair out. I better not do that, though. I don’t think I’d look very good bald. 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a tough spot to be in, and I hope you’ll find something soon. Maybe not the job of your dreams, but SOMETHING to keep you going. I’ll be thinking of you.
LikeLike
Thanks, Deby. I know something will come along. The waiting and swimming and floating, though, is making me very, very tired. 🙂
LikeLike
Jenny, you don’t know me but I’ve been following your blog for several months now. Rejection is absolutely one of the most difficult things to deal with. I know, because my family and I just went through 15 months of it. As you say, it teaches us patience. Fortunately, we are just beginning to come out of the bad times. Most of what is finally coming to fruition for us now is a direct result of putting people first: essentially, the relationships we have been nurturing. These are new relationships in our new community, co-workers from recent years, and people we have known all our lives. Every day, plant a seed or two. Every now and again, return to drizzle some love and sunshine and water on one of them. And then one day, the phone (metaphorically speaking) begins to ring. Hang in there and reach out to your friends when you need an ear.
[Personally, I don’t get the “overqualified” concept. To me, that’s an idiot’s euphemism for, “I’m too stupid to keep a good person engaged.” My two bits.]
LikeLike
Love your last comment! 🙂 I am glad you said what you said about reaching out to others. I’ve really jumped in to help my mother-in-law. She’s suffering from dementia and it’s been very hard on the family. I step in when I can, help when I can. I’m learning a lot about the medicare and health insurance debacle our seniors have (don’t have) in place for them. It’s sad. I try not to dwell on the bad but after 4 years with a short 7 month break…well, it gets very hard. What is so frustrating is I can’t even get a job at Wal-mart. All I can do is keep reaching out to people, helping them where I can, and pray something happens soon. Thank you so much for reaching out to me. I appreciate it so much, and good luck to you and your family. May you have all the health, wealth and love you could ever want or need.
LikeLike
Jenny, that was me making the last comment . . . using daughter’s laptop since mine died and didn’t realize she was signed into wordpress!
LikeLike
All of America seems to be suffering. Hubs and I both have jobs, but come September, we’ll be kicked out of our home. No matter how hard we work, it’s never enough. We’re bone-tired and weary, but little joys like the ones you found above give us a renewed strength of spirit to face whatever tomorrow brings. The sad truth is, I LOVE both my jobs, but neither one pay much money. Haven’t had a teaching raise in 7 years, even though prices have tripled on just about everything since then 😦 Thought writing would be an extra income–HAHAHAHA!!!
LikeLike
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one of us hit the ‘big time’ and bought a huge house like one of these? We could all live together, and have such an awesome time! Space to disappear if we wanted but also a space big enough for play time, for parties, for friends and family to stay over. Ahh, I can envision it. I would love it!
LikeLike
I don’t think I’d ever want a house that big. I have enough problem keeping the house I have clean. But I have to admit, the kids would LOVE playing hide and seek in one of those. I think if I had extra money, I’d like to go away… and not jut away, but go away without any worries of how the heck we were going to pay for it. Yeah, relax and not worry. That would be nice.
LikeLike
Wouldn’t it? Know that no matter what you want or where you want to go, everything would be taken care of. Such freedom. such a relief. Where would you want to go?
LikeLike
Somewhere with great snorkeling and great hiking. Maybe Australia.
LikeLike
Yeah, New Zealand would be awesome. I don’t like poisonous animals and Australia has tons of them. I’d also love to go to Italy, Scotland and Ireland.
LikeLike
I was sooo disappointed when a job I wanted sooo bad…just didn’t materialize…Everything was set…the words had been said…but, then it was relocated way too far for me to drive…
and then along came……the best job I could ever had!…that I love to go to…Although I’m just a Part-timer now…being retired…It fits perfectly!…and so it will be with you!…I just know it!
LikeLike
Thank you. I know it will. If nothing else, this is teaching me patience.
LikeLike
Jenny, with most jobs being shipped overseas, I was going to ask you if you’ve considered training in another field; a new career. I don’t ask this lightly because I have friends and family in your shoes and they have had to do this very thing. One friend went into the medical field as a nursing aid and found that she kind of enjoyed the switch of career even if it meant less money than what she made before, but at least her bills were getting paid. I’ll get my sister to put you on the prayer line.
LikeLike
Thanks, Marie. I have considered going back to school but I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. 🙂 I’ve applied for retail jobs since that is in my background, but same story – I’m over-qualified. I’ll keep plugging away. Something has to happen, right? Maybe I’ll get a six figure publishing deal… *wink* 🙂
LikeLike
Hey Jenny. First of all I’m inspired by you as a writer and I think you know that. Stop looking at it as rejection and more of God saying no bc He has something better that’s more in alignment with where you are right now. Start declaring that the right job is going to come along; that you are being taken care of and that God does care! You have to declare what you do want instead of saying what you don’t want. The Universe only hears your vibration. You get back what you give out. Going thru that wealthy neighborhood was awesome! It raised your vibration, right? Create a vision board of what you do want. Focus on it every day. There’s a wonderful quote I wanted to share with you that I have been saying every day. It goes like this: “I am open and receiptive to new avenues of income. I now receive income from unexpected channels. I am an unlimited being receiving from an unlimited source in an unlimited way.” Now doesn’t that just raise your vibration already????
LikeLike
Thank you for the new mantra. I have been focusing on what I want. That’s why I think these last two job rejections were such a let down because they were in the field I wanted to get into. I’m better now, but the first 24 hours were rough. Couple that with being turned down for jobs for 4 years…well, that doesn’t do much for the old psyche. 🙂 I’m a work in progress. I’m hanging in there.
LikeLike
Looking for a job is a lot like querying a novel and the rejections always hurt. You just have to remember that this job was not meant to be for you because there is a better fit down the road. It will happen. Waiting is the hardest part. Good for you for having some fun dreaming instead of feeling sorry for yourself. The right job is just around the corner.
LikeLike
I am praying every day for the right one to come along. Sometimes I feel I’m jaded. It’ll get better. Thanks for your kind words.
LikeLike