Dear Ms. Spiritual Matters,
Last week, the company at which I’ve worked for 10 years, the same company from which my dad retired, pulled out of our city. My boyfriend—of two months—left with the company, becoming a supervisor in a country where workers earn much less than those of us left behind. I have known him for only two months. I am not sure if he will continue being my boyfriend.
My girlfriends took me out one evening and I was surprised by their assessment of my situation. “Celebrate the blessing of a new life,” they said. Their outlook seemed that I should see this change as positive. They presented me with a list of job opportunities and a calendar of events that I could attend with them.
I am miffed that they’re not more understanding of my loss.
Yours,
Sylvia
Dear Sylvia,
You seem to be hurt by what you perceive as the insensitivity of your friends. Let them know you have a sense of uncertainty, since you don’t have a picture of what your future holds.
I believe what your friends are saying is there could be a silver lining in the changes you face. They want what is best for you, and hope you consider different work and personal futures than the ones you planned. With a positive attitude, you might accomplish both.
You are blessed with friends wanting to help you find new employment opportunities and meet new people.
Sincerely,
Ms. Spiritual Matters
Susan Schoenbeck holds Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an experienced educator and teaches nursing students at Walla Walla University — Portland, Oregon campus. She is an oblate of a Benedictine Monastery where she learned centering and contemplative meditation practices. She is author of the book, Zen and the Art of Nursing, Good Grief: Daily Meditations, and Near-Death Experiences: Visits to the Other Side.