Broke my back and got laid off in the same week.
I was hiking out to grizzly peak in Jefferson wilderness, and I shattered my t12 vertebrae (stems from a previous injury). I was rescued by Search and Rescue and spent two days in the ER, then went home. The next morning, I got laid off from a startup that I was at for roughly 4 years.
On one hand I’m happy i was laid off because I have a little nest egg and I can fully focus on healing for a full year.
On the other, I’m struggling mentally a bit for a few reasons.
- I’m stuck on the couch and can’t do much to clear my mind, ruminating is inevitable. I’m mourning the loss of my professional career and also managing the void I feel not being able to get out into the forest to clear my head.
- I currently live in Oregon, and I have decided it’s logically a good idea to head back home to Pennsylvania so that I have some support from my family. A bit of an identity shock as I’ve lived in the PNW for over a decade and I’m not ready to pack up my house and leave.
- I will have to limit myself to remote roles for the next year or two. In the current job market this seems like it’s a big limitation.
- I worry about the large gap I will accumulate this year while focusing on other things, and also the time it will likely take to land another remote position.
Life goes on I guess! I’m not sure what’s next for me but I’m definitely focused on healing my body this year and will figure out the rest as I go.