Last night Gary and I went into the city.  While he was working out with his friend, Renn, I went to one of the local watering holes on the Castro called the Midnight Sun. They show a lot of comedy clips and music videos there. The crowd is friendly. I was hoping to run into some of my regular buddies there. However, no one was out.

However, I ran into someone I had not seen in a while.  He seemed really weighed down by something. It was written all over his face. I know that he had worked all through the Thanksgiving Holiday.  It seemed like this relentless schedule had not let up on him.  Apparently, he has been on PTO but he has been on call for various escalations from work and it has worn him out.  I really felt for him.  He was literally at the end of his rope.

I am part of a group of people who will be laid off at the end of January. I can see the same tired faces on some of them.  Understandably they are weighed down by the pending loss of income.  The stress is mounting with each day.

There is no jolly to the holidays for many individuals this year.

I have also seen individuals who seem to be at peace despite the circumstances that are affecting their lives negatively.  These include people who have been dealt with incurable diseases or worst of poverty. They still maintain a sense of happiness.

This does not mean that they are not sad or frustrated at times, but they are able to find a way out of it. I have admired this quality and have tried to emulate it especially now in my own life.

I have been through a layoff before and I handled it differently.  I wasted a lot of energy on negative thinking which led to inaction.  This time I have taken a different approach and it has already made a difference in my mental state. I feel optimistic and energized.

I am also trying to soak up the best of the holiday spirit to build the extra reservoir I need to meet the New Year and to succeed in my quest to find, not only a job, but a new direction in my life.

The message of Peace on Earth begins with Peace within One’s Soul. I hope we all receive it.