Laid off and loving it!

It’s been a rough month.  The holidays turned into holydays as the passing of both my mother and mother-in-law amplified sadness and joy simultaneously.  Sadness at their passing.  Joy at reclaiming family members long lost in the normal rush of life.  Nevertheless, it all left me exhausted.

So I went surfing.  For the first time in weeks the sun shone warm and waves rolled in.  Miraculously there were only two of us in the water.  In the normal crowds of Southern California that is astounding.  Not only that, my fellow surfer was Jim, an old friend who always helps me catch the best waves.  He has that special surf antenna that sees waves before normal people do and paddles to where they will crest.  His surf vision is like a dog’s hearing.  Jim is ever optimistic.  He’s had his share of life challenges.  Tougher than most.  But you’d never know it.  He was recently laid off from a great paying job in which he excelled.  No matter.  In the great wisdom of management by the numbers he was caught in the economic downdraft.  Jim’s response…Joy!  You see Jim’s a saver.  He’s an astute observer of the economy, human nature, and the world at large.  He knew the fake boom wouldn’t last so he prepared for the worst.  And the worst happened.  He’s out of a job but has reserves to see him into his next business, which he is designing to take advantage of our economic catastrophe.

As Jim sat on his board bobbing on the blue Pacific he said, “Life has been so good to me.  The things I enjoy the most, I enjoy everyday.  Now I have time to build the sandbox and teach my kids to bike without training wheels.  And I get to surf really great waves while everyone else is at work.”

Of course Jim is concerned about the future.  But he’s prepared for the worst.  So he doesn’t live in fear.  He lives in abundance of the moment.  And he consciously lives each day with respect…for himself, his family, and his fellow beings.  Jim may love the salt water, but he’s the salt of the earth.  I am proud to call this wise man my friend.