(Recently, good friends were told that they’ve effectively lost jobs they’ve held for 30 years – could eventually happen to me)
Yes, the statement is fair! To say otherwise to anyone affected by that situation is just heartless inhumanity. Period.
Here’s how we cope with loss and betrayal, while still reminding ourselves to live with gratitude.
Anger, sadness, and retaliation are just a few of the emotions and actions one might feel in situations such as the loss of a long-held job. It has been said that it is similar to the death of a loved one or a bad divorce.
Ask anyone who has been through this and they’ll confirm – feeling one, if not all of these emotions.
Why?
Because for the most part, they lived what I describe as a life of Gratitude with its Three Pillars.(“as outlined in my earlier posts”).
They were Accountable, Assimilated and Allegiant.
Accountable – For 30 years, they showed up, produced and contributed to the profitability of the business. Only occasionally and rarely – calling in sick.
Assimilated – To have lasted that long, they were dialed in to how things operate successfully – May have even contributed to improvements of process.
Allegiant – They have, on more than one occasion, sacrificed personal needs because a colleague needed support or simply operational needs warranted the extra push.
Then – an unmistakable gesture showing the way to the door permanently. Polite, but the door nonetheless.
The business has found a shiny new thing/toy and the spreadsheet shows that that’s the way to go.
You understand it or we all get it. We used to communicate using rotary phones. Now – no one in their right mind wouldn’t use a mobile phone instead.
Right?
Yes.
But people aren’t rotary phones!
And they helped create the mobile phone.
I am not writing to bash or justify layoffs. They are ugly realities some of us face.
Instead, let’s pivot to gratitude: What I’m reinforcing is the Life of Gratitude and that by living it, realignment always happens. Always.
Why?
In what I’ve narrated so far, and as far as my friends are concerned, they have lived gratefully.
Having practiced it for thirty years, they have all the tools they need to “land on their feet.” The situation they find themselves in, is another one of those life sucks! – And it’s happening to them.
But like before, when they were handed bad cards, they “worked” through it and came out scathed but stronger and better.
It may be hard to see, but this time is no different.
How?
Feel it, own it — then pivot with the Pillars. The three Ps. It’s time to apply them again. – they’ve wittingly or unwittingly applied them before. It’s called for again.
Permanent – The Pillars of Gratitude – Accountability, Assimilation and Allegiance will again prove to “save the day.”
Their chosen moves are to be chosen with Prudence. Having a ton of experience, they will pull from the same wealth of knowledge to weigh their best options. Believe me, they have them.
It’s not an automatic that the first choice is what works. But because they’re applying and have applied these before, one or a combination of moves will prove to be the trade off that is most effective.
Pragmatic – They decide and move. That’s the key! They do not analyze until they’re paralyzed- no big gestures needed either. Control what they can and MOVE/ACT.
Nothing Happens until Something/Someone Moves.
That saying is OUR Achilles Heel!
Coming back full circle, the Life of Gratitude has and will always be the guide/answer to a life lived hard, productive and meaningful.
Meanwhile my friends and I will do our best to be there for each other whenever we can.
– The Grateful Immigrant from St. Paul, Minnesota
February 7, 2026
LIVE GRATEFUL 🇺🇸
Grateful Immigrant 