De-Funked
March 18, 2010
Thanks to sheer luck or good defense mechanisms, I’ve managed to get through life so far without the aid of a therapist or an SSRI. Like everyone else, I have my down moments (or days). For example, I have an occasional celiac depression—when I am dying for something with gluten because everyone around me is eating a bagel and I can never eat one again. Or I have my annual one-day depression when the clocks are set back in the fall and I face the dark, cold days of winter.
But last month, I was hit by two solid weeks of feeling blue. It was
completely different than my mini-depressions. I was working hard, day
and night. But I’ve done that before. Winter wasn’t letting
up. But it never does in February. I put on a happy face at work, but I
was glum at home. Just ask Peter.
It wasn’t too long before I figured out what was going on. I had a new
boss. He’s fine. But what I didn’t realize was how accustomed I had
become to being the acting boss. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed
getting all those phone calls from folks who couldn’t make a decision without my
input. I missed that feeling of being absolutely essential.
My mood lifted when I remembered that it was my decision not to apply for my
boss’ job. I’m at a stage of life when I should be maintaining the status
quo at work or slowing down. Once again, I had a little time for me. I
was over the serious blues. Life is good. I’m lucky.
And I’m de-funked.
I retired in 2001 when I was 65. The previous 10 years I had been the lead person in my computer specialty where I worked. I went to conferences, spoke at meetings, and was an acknowledged expert to my peers. I was lucky enough to get into the computer revolution in the early days and rode it to retirement. I loved my work. It was challenging, exciting, and never boring. Overnight I went from being a somebody to being a nobody. I lost a lot of my social contacts and had no idea what I would do with my time in spite of trying to figure it out during the previous 25 years. The first year was awful but I just told myself I would figure it out and I did. I took my skillset to the non profit arena and am very satisfied with where I am now. I hope it lasts to the end of the road. If I can't do what I do now, I have a whole list of other things just waiting for me to find the time. You seem to be a strong person and you will be fine too.
Posted by: Twin City Joan | March 21, 2010 at 10:29 AM