An attempt at mindful unemployment

For the first time ever, I am unemployed, albeit by choice. I cannot recall a time that I did not belong to something, be it school or a work place. For a long time, my occupation even served as my identity and as a code of conduct. I liked being a diplomat and working for the government, or at least I liked the affiliation. Depending on whether I wanted to impress or not, my answer to "what do you do?" were twofold. "I am a diplomat" garnered some awe, where as "I work for the government" ended the conversation with disinterest.

Now, I am stripped of any positions and labels, having to face who I am and how I want to be known as - the question that we were made to face during our yoga teacher training class. We are many things all at once: a daughter, a wife, a friend, a colleague, a niece, a sister, a yogi, a concept that was novel to me at the time. Then, during my recent career consulting course, we reflected on the same concept but put forth by Donal E. Super as a "career rainbow".

So, here I am, trying out unemployment to broaden my horizon and to stand on my own feet over a decade earlier than is asked of me. Establishing roots in the community that my mother grew up in, and uprooting myself from the transient life. I will have to keep my eyes wide open as I linger in the present moment. Letting go and paying close attention to moment by moment by moment. Practicing mindfulness.