Words of Assurance?

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"Not to bring up something upsetting, but when you leave here today, you may go through a period of unemployment. My suggestion is this: Enjoy the unemployment. Have a second cup of coffee. Go to the park. Read Walt Whitman. Walt Whitman loved being unemployed. I don't believe he ever did a day's work in his life. As you may know, he's a poet. If a lot of time goes by and you continue to be unemployed, you may want to consider announcing to all appropriate parties that you have become a poet." (John Patrick Stanley, playwright, in his commencement speech at the College of Mount St. Vincent, NY Time National section, June 14, 2009)

Granted, this made me chuckle...but then I am not a college student facing an uncertain future.

Comments

Jennifer said…
I'd love to read the rest of this address. John Patrick Stanley rocks...
7/01/2009 10:02 PM
Jennifer said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
7/01/2009 10:11 PM
Barbara B. said…
It is kinda cute! :)
7/02/2009 1:47 AM
altar ego said…
As one who has lived through several periods of unemployment I can say, "ditto," to his suggestions. The only real downside to being unemployed is not having an income with which to keep debt at bay. That little niggler notwithstanding, periods of not working have been very fruitful times for me, and I really did enjoy the time perhaps a little too much.
7/02/2009 12:32 PM
Ruth Hull Chatlien said…
There are pearls of wisdom here . . . but it's hard not to be anxious in those circumstances.
7/03/2009 9:18 PM
Jan said…
Wonderful! I'm copying this and sending it to my son, who was layed off last week.
7/04/2009 10:40 PM
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