“When Nothing is Certain…”

Five years ago today was a Thursday. I got up that morning, packed a couple of things for a long weekend in San Francisco and headed to work, like any other day. Unknown to me as I drove to the office though, it was actually the day I would lose my job at Starbucks... a casualty in the the first wave of a months-long series of layoffs across the company. I never saw this coming. I planned to retire as an executive at Starbucks. My blood ran green. To say that this was a shock is an understatement. Losing your job is painful no matter the circumstances, and often terrifying. We can experience a host of emotions in the days, weeks, months and even years that follow as our sense of self-worth is shaken, or as shame takes court in our bones.

An emotion that we don't always acknowledge in these moments is grief... of a lost dream, a lost plan... a daily routine... a body of work we'd be excited to continue... an image we had of ourselves, our futures, and others around us. I know so many people who lost their jobs in the last year... who are currently on here looking for their next role. I want you to know that I see you and that I believe in your ability to rebuild. A quote that got me through that time was, "When nothing is certain, everything is possible." Your future is bright. Keep going.