Never Give Up

As a woman of a "certain age," I find myself at a place in life I never expected to be at this point -- lacking full time work. It is small comfort to know that I have plenty of company. Reports are that the unemployment rate of older workers is notably higher than mid-career people. It's also apparent that the longer older people remain unemployed, the less likely it becomes that they will ever return to the workplace, let alone to a job comparable to those they've held in the past.

The question is, what can one do about it? On the face of it -- not much. Mature workers who believe they were dismissed because of their age, have the weight of the law on their side and can fight the firing. But there is no such option for workers who are not getting hired because of their age. No law says you have to hire a more experienced person. Everybody knows, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." That is a myth, of course, but myths have powerful mojo and are tough to overcome.

So, while all this is true for my peer group, it remains up to me whether I stay with the pack or break out and make my own fortune. I have a long-held belief that one cannot make anyone else responsible for one's happiness. I think something similar applies to work. I need to make my own future, no one else is responsible for that.

Guess I'd better get to it!