"We are blessed that Justin's job is allowing me to stay at home and be more selective about a job if the right one presents itself."
I say some version of this every.single.time.
Yet I can feel it looming when I approach; like the musty perfume that signals "that" customer is already waiting for you in your office.
"Found a job yet?"
I know this person means absolutely no harm; I know it is simply a grasp for a more personalized greeting. But I was telling a friend the other day that I sometimes feel like every question phrased to me ends in the tiny but highly personal word "yet."
"Have you and Justin thought about having kids yet?"
"Are you pregnant yet?"
"Have you tried Monster.com yet?"
We agreed to refer to these people as "yetties" to make ourselves feel better. The Yetties are coming, the Yetties are coming.
The reason I think this small word can harbor a big blow for a lot of people is because it reeks-- even if accidentally-- of personal control.
And honestly, I don't have the answer to the "yets" either. Next week will mark a year since I lost my job and it's hard to outline what strides I've made since then (if you don't count learning how to make a wreath and no longer burning supper).
I used to halt the job inquiries by talking about possibly starting a family; that has begun the fairly early stages of not looking like it's going to be easy either; so I am lying on a hammock in "yet" limbo.
Most of the time I am content; I realize I am blessed to have a spouse who says, "Don't just take any miserable, minimum-wage job. You've done that enough." I'm blessed to have this time to sleep through the night (praise ye the Lord) and be selfish a little bit longer.
But I think I speak for a lot of people, when I encourage you to take a new conversational path. This includes me. Let's take a cue from Proverbs 12:25 that says, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."
