Why I am Outwitting Life

I used to think acceptance was akin to defeat. If you accept something then you are “giving in.” I have decided (at least for me), this is not true. Yes, acceptance may mean change but change doesn’t have to defeat you. It will, if you let it, so you have to be prepared and ready to fight it.

I say this as if it is easy to do. I know first hand it is not. I do not believe that anyone truly likes change. Some of us adapt to it better than others, but, it’s typically not fun. I lost my job in February. That was a huge change! Jobs are what define us in the world.

Typically, the first thing you are asked when you meet someone is, “What do you do?” When you are out of work, that is the most dreaded question to be asked–and you know it is coming! It’s almost as if you no longer have an identity. I have thought long and hard about how best to answer this question. My go to is, “I am surviving. What do you do?” I find it’s better to put the focus on the other person. It’s actually very easy since most people love to speak about themselves.

I have been questioning everything since I lost my job. I think it’s got something to do with the fact that I am in my late fifties. No one wants to hire someone my age. Work is for the youngsters in my industry. After I got over the initial shock, I realized I am relieved I lost my job. I no longer want to work in Corporate America. I’ve done if for over thirty years! But how do you replace income? We live on Long Island in a two-income family area. We have a daughter in a Catholic college and a son attending a Catholic high-school. There’s no way I could just stop working. So, I decided I needed to figure out how to Outwit Life!

It’s kind of like making lemonade out of lemons, only on a much bigger scale. The changes in my life (and my family’s), happened in 2016 when I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. I intend to put together some posts in the coming weeks that will detail that lovely time in my life. My cancer diagnosis is what initiated my quest to overcome change and Outwitting Life.com was born. Technically, it is a Lifestyle Blog. I have been taking classes on how to start a new business, and specifically how to monetize a blog. If you are reading this you are in on the beginning of my journey. I cannot wait to see where this leads to!