I'm Still Standing: Looking Ahead to 2017

Sunday, January 01, 2017

Happy New Year, Go Retro readers! I think this is about the fifth time I've attempted this post. I simply wasn't sure whether I really wanted to do a "year in review" post. My year wasn't so hot, but then again it wasn't a hot year for a lot of people I know (it also wasn't a great year for Democrats and  Harambe the gorilla.)

The main thing that happened to me got mentioned on here a few months ago; namely, that I was laid off from the new job I got in 2016 after only five months. I didn't say too much about it at the time for fear one of my former coworkers was reading this blog, but since I'm pretty sure none of them have ventured on it at all, I can open my mouth a little bit. I worked for an ego maniac and quite possibly the worst boss I've ever had. He was the CEO, and he was completely disrespectful to me with zero feelings for any of his employees. Even though my interview with him went well, I sensed something was off the first week -- and things went downhill from there. I knew something was really wrong with him when an employee's boyfriend died suddenly over the fourth of July weekend; the guy had fallen, hit his head, and then was on life support for a week before his family made the decision to remove him. When the announcement was made, it came from the CFO, not the CEO (who was present in the room but clearly had some issue with announcing it to the staff.) The wake and funeral arrangements were not shared with us, and no sympathy card got passed around to be signed. The CEO was supposed to attend the funeral, but he didn't leave the office until a half hour before it was going to be over. The way the whole thing was handled really bothered me; it seemed very cold and so much different than other companies I've worked for.

Needless to say, I was not happy. I should have been; it was the ideal job I wanted for what initially seemed like a nice company and I was making a steady salary again. But no matter how hard I tried, it was like trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole: my boss, for whatever reason, simply did not like me.

And things got worse from there. Believe me, I'm not whining or looking for sympathy because that first weekend after the layoff (it happened on a Friday) I was relieved to know I wouldn't have to return to that place on Monday morning. By the way, they hired a pretentious woman about ten years younger than me to take over my duties. She still hasn't managed to grow the company's Twitter followers beyond 800, when I grew it to that amount in five months.

Right now I'm freelancing through the winter and will pursue a full-time job in the spring, but it won't be in marketing. I'm leaning towards a more administrative role that will allow me enough time for freelance writing on the side.

2016 was definitely the year that some BS and people that were not good for me and did not have my best interests at heart got swiftly and quietly culled from my life, including that CEO, so it was all totally for the best. In the past couple of weeks I've been learning to be happy again day by day, no matter what seems to be currently lacking in my life. I've been more patent with my mother, and not sweating the small stuff (because so much of it is small stuff.) Not long ago, I sent an intention: 2017 is an amazing year for me and sooooo much better than 2016 was. I want to meet some cool new people, continue making some great friendships, and finally watch the online magazine freelancing course I purchased right after I lost my job and put the teachings into practice. I want to go roller skating with my Meetup group (a resolution I declared here last year that I never followed through with.) I want to be working again, this time for someone that appreciates my work and can actually say "thank you" and "great job."

It's going to be a year full of fun, love, laughter, happiness, peace, health, and abundance.

Now, onto Go Retro! It's hard for me to believe, but the blog is going to be turning 10 years old this summer. I'm not planning anything drastic for the content, but I think the layout is starting to get a bit old. I've been looking around at other Blogger templates and found one I really like, so don't be alarmed if you see the design change within the coming months (and if anything looks out of place.)

Something else worth noting: two excellent retro-themed blogs I was following both hit the skids: Retrospace and The Glamorous Housewife. Retrospace was sold (and the new owners aren't posting content that is up to snuff with the original content) and The Glamorous Housewife is now debating politics on her Facebook page instead of demonstrating vintage style updos. With these two sites now stagnant, I sense an opportunity (as I rub my palms together in delight.)

I'm still here. I'm still standing, as Elton John sang. That's what matters. I wish all of my readers a happy, healthy, prosperous 2017 and look forward to more retro times with you all!

8 comments:

  1. I think I discovered you through Retrospace. Miss it a lot. Glad you're still here, though.

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    1. I'm glad you discovered it before Gilligan at Retrospace dropped me from his blog roll for some reason. Happy New Year!

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  2. Pam, I wish for you a wonderful and amazing 2017. For all of us. Its been an odd year for me, as well. Actually an odd series of years. I am essentially freelancing in my own line of work, and have been so for the past two years. Prior to that, I was hired and fired from two different jobs within a 6 month period. I shudder to think what that last fact suggests to people, but the main problem truly was the jobs themselves which I jumped into before realizing what I had done. The first job had a horrible work environment with abusive co-workers and a distant administration, and the latter had an egomaniac boss. So, I know and strongly sympathize with your experience.

    But 2017 will be a better year. I really am looking forward, and putting my faith in my spiritual beliefs that all works for the better, and that the future will be radiant! So be it. For you, for me, for everyone seeking something better.

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    1. Hey Lazlo, I'm sorry to hear that...you have my sympathies. It's not fun working in a toxic environment, but that's why i believe these situations often get moved out of the way quite abruptly for us so that something better can take their place. And I absolutely agree about 2017! Keep on keeping on...

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  3. Interesting I haven't had one person say to me that 2016 was great year. Don't worry, I'm not either. LOL I wasn't laid off or fired, but because of a significant downturn in sales, I took a pretty serious financial haircut to stay employed. Downer? You betcha! But I had a long time customer tell me (when I was telling her my woes) that your health is the most important thing, everything else is just a distraction. I immediately saw the logic in this. You did exactly what you needed to maintain your mental and physical health. Stress really is a killer. I wish you and all the fellow followers out there the very best for 2017!

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    1. Hi dryheat -- you're absolutely right; when you have health, you have a lot more than what some people have. I can honestly say the past few months have been relatively stress-free, and I'm looking forward to seeing what 2017 has in store. Happy New Year!

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  4. Yes, Pam, the bloodsucking corporations have ruined the world and the environment. They have created a class of entitled leaches that my grandfather, who was a competent personnel manager at At&T in the 1960s-1980s called the "GD MBA's" (or goddamned Masters in Business Administrators). I wish you well in finding an occupation that is less soul-destroying and more humane.

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  5. Pam, sorry that you had such a rough 2016. I'm sure that 2017 will be much better. BTW, I agree with you about Retrospace. However, Gilligan still posts as Yeoman Lowbrow on Flashbak.com.

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