Patience has been the most profound and resilient virtue to live by. Patience has been the force and guide preventing many bad choices, preventing impetuous decisions, and preventing callous mistakes. With meditation and spiritual awakening comes patience and inner peace. This virtue was pointed out to me by family, by friends, and by coworkers past and present when I would have never recognized it in myself. No one says, “I am patient”, the same as no one should ever describe themselves by saying, “I am smart. I am intelligent”. Others see that value/virtue in you. Consider it self-absorbent to consider that quality on your own.
Nothing in life has ever been guaranteed, a self lesson learned early on in life. The more time life is spent living, the more the realization is apparent that anything rushed is not worth appreciating thoroughly. For example, in year 2020 being released from a job in the restaurant industry just as the pandemic was unfolding before the world’s very eyes was a shock, to say the least. Before unemployment benefits were a consideration, and a big thank you to my family for instilling a strong work ethic in all of us, I applied for at least seventy-five jobs. Seems like a lot but when you are thirsty for work sometimes you have to do the extreme. Spending the first week on lockdown applying for jobs, seventy-five applications were submitted and then the wait began.
As uncertain as the outcome of the pandemic was, it would take three months before receiving the first email response from a potential employer requesting a telephone or virtual interview. Coming from an old school way of thinking where it was unethical for non-entertainment employers to ask for photos of employee prospects, it was quite daunting to consider moving forward with virtual interviews, but what other choices were there? Meditation calmed my uncertainties.
Family began to send money for bills and rent as unemployment benefits were siphoned off by the government, but nonetheless, there was hope. Then the calls and notifications started trickling in. Yes, this can be considered a triumphant moment, but what was noticing were the type of jobs requesting an interview: hospitality and customer service. There was no way someone would get me into a restaurant, bar, or hotel, face to face with people. Masked or not, it would not be the preferred job for me. Meditation became the constant and patience had to be elevated.
Finally, a call came in and after two strong interviews, my patience was rewarded. It would have been easy to accept the first position that was offered, but what would be the long term effects of being in a position where there wasn’t fulfillment, balance of life, or emphasis on mental health when our society is barely hanging on by a thread? After ten offers, the right position for my way of life was presented and accepted.
To all who are searching to find the right job or find their rightful place in society, do not be quick to accept the first thing or few things that come your way. Give thought and due diligence to what approaches. Meditate and search for the good. Trust and believe that when the right job or the right opportunity comes, it will be known. There will be a feeling of a heavy burden being lifted. The goosebumps seen are just the positive vibes and energy flowing. Being tenacious and an aggressive achiever is one thing, but always be patient in the decisions when moving forward. As the saying goes when playing dominoes, “all money isn’t good money”. The same is life.