This morning, getting ready for my 9 a.m. class at UVic, I reached for my laptop bag instead of my usual backpack. Muscle memory kicked in and I spent three minutes looking for my work phone, until I remembered: I don’t have one anymore.
Then came the reminders: a cupboard snack bag held shut with an Island Health clip, a couple of Island Health pens I tossed into my bag. And then I had to pause. A moment to acknowledge the feelings that came up before I reset and carried on with the day.
It is still sinking in that my life may look completely different now, and likely permanently, in such a short time.
Reframing the Story
On my walk from the car to campus (20 minutes to save on parking), I noticed the language I had been using: “I lost my job.” “I was laid off.” And, at its harshest, “I was fired.” The DBT (dialectical behavioural therapy) voice in my head offered a reframe: my position was made redundant.
That shift will take practice, but it matters. I did not do anything to cause this. I was not underperforming. In fact, I had the best annual reviews of my career these past two years. Every time I speak about this event, I reinforce the loop of how it shapes me. This is one place where I can support myself in both confidence and outlook.
Finding Inspiration
Later, scrolling LinkedIn, I came across a post from a healthcare leader offering her network and knowledge to those of us suddenly in the job market. Her generosity and wide-angle perspective inspired me. It reminded me of the kind of leader I want to be, one who lifts others up in difficult times and invests in people who care.
The comments included familiar names: colleagues and senior leaders also reaching out, also navigating this unexpected uncertainty. It gave me perspective and reassurance. When I am ready to step back into work, I know I will take her up on that offer.
Looking Ahead
In the meantime, school has given me something new to focus on and a different rhythm to my days. I can already sense how this learning will shape what comes next. It is a reminder that my career is not ending, it is unfolding in ways I could not have planned.
I am learning that this season of change comes with reminders of what was, but also with glimmers of what will be. With the skills I am building, and even through onboarding myself into a new institution, I feel more confident each day that I will come out of this ready for the next 27 years of my working life.
Living work-adjacent 
Leave a comment