Two weeks terminated: What I've learned after 14 days and counting

Irony: two days before my untimely termination, I commented to a friend that I had a good job that I felt secure in.

I have this idea in my head of what unemployment should look like.

It should be a time of self discovery, of deciding whether what I'm doing is truly what I want to be doing. I am inundated with messages of hope, affirmation and possibility, and all the mantras are pretty powerful and convincing.

Unemployment should look like a surprise vacation. I could fill the hours with visits to family and friends while I take the time to search my soul in far off places.

Unemployment should inspire me to take up knitting or learn a new language.

Unemployment is none of those things for me.

How I downloaded some apps and took back some control

Last week I mentioned that I can probably live without 90 percent of what I own. This week, I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

Downsizing really does feel like an excellent way to get a grip on my life, my finances and my time. While everything else is beyond my control, this is something that I can touch. I can manage what comes in and out of my house.

Day 5: A powerful magnet

My grandmother had a magnet on her refrigerator for years that read "Grateful am I for compliments given. More grateful I'll be for help in the kitchen."

Seems wordy for such a tiny accessory, but big on meaning.