Being a Duck

I don't know which comedian said this (it might be Dane Cook, which I guess, means it could be any comedian), but when women dial a number and get the wrong number, they check the number and dial the correct one. Men will dial the same number, but just push the buttons harder.

Now, I really don't want to show disrespect to my sweetie (or men as a whole), but the more I know men, the more this seems to be the case, at least as it pertains to employment (or lack thereof). I am aware it is very difficult to find work now. I was fortunate to find the position I have after not being able to work full time for years, and I am very, very grateful that I have this job.

However, this isn't the first time I found work in difficult times. I got my first full time position in the early 80's, when the Western New York economy was in the crapper. I worked in the 90's when the recession in this country was at full tilt. Did I have special skills? Well, no, not exactly. I just was willing to push myself out of my comfort zone and, sort of , re-create myself to get myself positions that I normally wouldn't apply for.

As my last husband said, I'm a duck. If I can't walk, I'll swim. If I can't swim, I'll fly. If I can't find a job teaching, I'll focus on my other skills - writing tutorials and/or researching technology. It's not that difficult if you remain open to change. Ah, there's the scary word - change. That's the reason many people (and many men - including my own guy) can't or won't look into any sort of work outside of what they already know.

Yes, I know, change can be scary. But the ability to change is the one attribute needed to survive this economic disaster. I want to find a way to let my guy know that change isn't bad. I need to find some way to teach him to find another way to work. I have to show him how to re-create himself - to be a duck.