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How I Made Peace With Getting Fired From My Six-Figure Job
I got fired.
That's right, I was "terminated" from my six-figure a year employer that I have been with for six years. It is, by all intents and purposes, the dream job that society wants you to have and tells you to aspire to after college. You know, the type of job with full benefits, 401k match, high salary, bonus options, and stock options. Let's not forget the coveted title, which somehow replaced my identity.
However, in a swift three-minute conversation, I went from the "American Dream" to nothing. And you know what? I am OK.
It is a short-lived euphoria because for some reason the comfort I feel seems to freak people out. It is causing me to experience the phenomenon of people projecting their emotions onto my situation. Let me tell you, projection of emotions is a helluva a drug. It would probably make people more uncomfortable to know that I manifested this scenario about two and a half years ago. Even more intensely over the last six months, but I keep that part to myself. Crazy, right?
Burnout is real people, and I found myself hating waking up to a job that made me feel empty. What does a burnout and manifesting my "termination" have to do with anything? Well, let me give you a little context.
I am a neurophysiologist and I work for a contract company that provides neuromonitoring services to hospitals in the area. All that means is that I work at a high-intensity job that requires a lot of my time and a lot of me. I have been in this field for 10 years and I prided myself on being hardworking and bending over backwards for my company and for my surgeons. No one was going to outwork me, I was determined to be the best and to perform in excellence always. As one company slogan put it, I always strived at "having an A team player attitude."
My reality was long hours with no breaks, spur-of-the-moment travel, trauma calls, dying patients, crying families, disrespectful hospital staff and doctors, time away from your family, difficult coworker relationships, etc.
I was one of the few women of color that worked for the company and that presented a whole host of other issues. But you get the point, it is tough. To top that off, several events occurred that let me know I was not of as much value as I thought when company culture shifted from being people-centric to numbers-centric. I was already doing the typical work-twice-as-hard-to-be-half-as-good dance that most people of color experience in the workplace and I was still struggling to maintain my purpose. Don't get me wrong, I was grateful to have a job, but I decided to start formulating my exit strategy.
It just so happened, the universe beat me to it.
However, the people closest to me did not share my sentiments of freedom. They instead asked questions like, "What are you going to do now?" or "What is your plan?" Honestly, I had no answer for them, I didn't care about any of that. I just didn't feel the need to have an answer or to rush this current season that I had just been thrust into. Sure, I didn't have any systems in place for when this happened, but I knew that if I panicked I would end up right back in the same place with a job that made me miserable.
I had to be strategic with this time. Most importantly, I had to own this time and not let anyone interrupt what the universe was doing for me.
The ask of what was I going to do next, in itself, seemed like an indictment on my personhood rather than genuine concern. It seemed to create disappointment in people when I had no answer to any of the questions. I decided to let all that go and do for me what is best. That is not a luxury I feel black women or women of color get often, if ever. I owe no one anything, especially not my time.
Recently, at a book signing with Elaine Welteroth for More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), she was explaining her decision to leave Teen Vogue. It was one of those moments in her life where things shifted and she had to follow a different path than what she had planned. Obviously, this resonated with me because I am also in the midst of the same shift. She said something that struck me deep:
"Your life is a series of dreams realized, you do not have to be defined by one dream."
At that moment, I felt seen and heard.
Losing my job is an opportunity for me to finally do what I want. To discover the things I love and to live my life in full potential. I had the "American Dream," and now I get a chance to have my dream.
What do I have to say to those who question me about losing my job? It's bigger than me now, life is taking me on the journey and all I have to do is put one foot in front of the other.
It's OK. I'm OK.
Featured image by Amer-Marie Woods/Instagram
Originally published on July 2, 2019.
- Life Lessons Learned From Getting Fired - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- More Than Enough Elaine Welteroth Authenticity - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- 5 Lessons On Self-Worth And Boundaries You Can Learn From Being Fired - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."