Just Keep Swimming — aye to zee

Hi, my name is Zina and I have a Bachelors degree in Communications, a Masters degree in Marketing and a PhD in self doubt. With qualifications like that, it's a wonder I haven't found a job yet. (Insert sarcasm here). And because this job hunt is leaving me disheartened, mildly depressed and annoyed with everyone and everything here's a list of things I tell myself so that I just keep swimming.

- If you like something, do it as much as you want. If you're good at it, don't it for free.

I got this one from this blog. Since reading that list of quotes, affirmations and things they say to feel better, I don't do anything for free. Now, I'll write because writing is something you need to constantly do to get better, but anything else? Nope. I don't do it for free. Not even for my mom and dad. Write that down. Live by it.

- Write EVERYTHING down. Like the post it commercial says, you're more likely to do things if you write it down. And I hand write it, not just type it as a note on my phone. I keep stacks and stacks of post it notes and index cards to write on. If there's a job I want to apply to. Write it down. If there's an affirmation I want to remember, save it in my phone. Then. Write it down. If there's things I want for my apartment (that doesn't exist as yet). Write it down. Sometimes I slack on this. Or I'll only make an electronic note, but putting pen (or pencil) to paper is essential.

- Don't put timelines on anything. I quit my job in April. I bought concert tickets in June. The concert is supposed to be in September. I was SURE I'd have a job by now. I don't. And I don't want to dip into my savings to take a trip, so now said concert tickets are in limbo. Up until now, I've been ahead of the curb when it comes to timelines. I couldn't even legally drink in America when I got my first degree. So now, I feel incredibly behind. Learning not to put timelines on things is a lesson I'm still learning. But it's a super important one. Everything will happen for me when it's supposed to. And while I'm frustrated, I shouldn't rush anything.

- We stumble upon our happiest moments while in pursuit of something else. In my experience, in life everyone is always in pursuit of the next thing. You go from high school, to college, to working, to a home, to a spouse to a family. And while yes, those things can bring joy and accomplishment, it's the things that we run into while accomplishing those things that bring true happiness. It's the friends we meet in college that last a lifetime. It's the experiences we have with those spouses. It's the unconditional love that those children give us. Yes accomplishing goals is gratifying, but it's the things we go through on that journey that make us the person we're supposed to be and give us the happiness we need to keep going.

I don't have this thing called life figured out. I don't even have my next step figured out. But I am figuring out who Zina is. And that brings more happiness than any position has thus far. Even though I'm being hard on myself because things aren't working out how I'd hoped or as quickly as I'd hoped, I have to remember to just keep swimming.