Broccoli and Cheese

I got convinced to get into this self-help program because I was told that there are resume a lot – LLLOOOTTT – of jobs out there. I was told that the reason why I couldn’t find them was that I was looking at the wrong places. I was told that the reason why I couldn’t grab opportunities was because I wasn’t selling my skills well enough. The bottom line is, I was told, somehow, I was doing something wrong.

Four weeks into the program and I’m still exactly where I started. I got a couple of pointers from the first week, but it turns out, that’s all they have to offer. It’s like feeding children veggies (well, some kids at least…mine love their leafy greens). Broccoli dipped in cheese. The coating lures you to take a bite, but as you bury your teeth deeper, you find the inside to be very disgusting. You’re fooled and you feel stupid. Yet, you go on finishing your meal because you’ve
already invested so much of your time waiting in line.

photo credit:

Preslisa’s Album

Four weeks in and I’m back to my initial thoughts about the program. I do know more than these people that I have to listen to every single day. Way more. Ergo, they can’t help me. They have no idea how to sell my skills. That’s probably because most of them, they’ve never heard of before – link building, search engine optimization, copywriting…whhhaaattt? If I were inside their heads, I must be spinning in a whirlpool right now. “So, when you say ‘Content Editor’”, she says, “what is that?” And then she goes on with, “You have to use a job title that people know.”

Big city-third world knows more than small city-first world. Life does not run out of ways to humor you.

I wanted to scream, “Idiot!”

Content Editor – An editor hired to edit both the content (subject matter) of a book, as well as its form (eg sentence structure). – www.findyourpublisher.com. In this case, of course, the content refers to online content.

Seriously, there are people who are listed in payrolls with this job title.

Oh, this little part of California! Suburbia has never been so pathetic. If an image of polished Wysteria Lane flashed in your mind by the thought of suburbia, forget it…this place is nothing like it.

Four weeks into the program and the doors are still closed. I was raised thinking that if God closes a door, another one (or at least a window) opens.

I’ve turned this whole place upside down and I can’t find even a small hole to let a ray of light through.

Four weeks in and I gave up on job hunting and shifted my focus on making profit through blogging. I’ve read dozens of articles, joined social networks, participated in communities and whatnot. I’ve been doing something the people at the program have no idea about. Stumbleupon whaaattt? I could be job hunting and filling up online applications for all they know.

Sigh.

I was raised thinking that God helps those who help themselves. Every night, I pray that I hope He saw how hard I helped myself during the day. I get the sucky sulky feeling when, the next day, no leads turn up. It kind of makes me feel that God was not satisfied with my efforts the day before.

Imogen Heap hit the nail right on the head: All I want, only one street level miracle.

Well, to be fair, I am asking for two: (1) to get a job, and (2) to have my family here. Still, though, they’re nothing grand. STREET LEVEL. They’re simple, easy prayers that an omnipotent God should have no problem making happen. I’m not questioning him. I’m not going to mutter out sacrilegious statements. My faith is solid…no matter how, among us siblings, I’ve had it hard. Although, of course, “hard” is relative. My brother and my sister are also fighting their own battles that consume them in no way I could ever imagine. Therefore, I ask of you readers to please not hate me if you – or the people on the streets – have/have had it harder.

Let’s just be sympathetic of each other’s struggles, shall we?

I have an idea: How about I light a candle for you at church next Sunday and you do the same for me? You already know the things I am praying for. Let me know what you are: info@inadvertentlydomesticated.com

P.S.

I just had the hardest time looking for a free picture of broccoli and cheese online. I must remember my Getty Images login details.

P.P.S.

I should have warned you that this post isn’t about food.