Brian W. V.
14 months ago, I lost my job to a corporate takeover. I was in a great position working for the best Manager/Owner on the planet. We discussed my future deep into my 60s (I'm 58 now). I guess he panicked and sold it off. Maybe they gave him an excellent offer, but I doubt it. It was sudden and the worst kind of surprise. The new company was completely different. Very dysfunctional and poorly guided. I knew right away they had no spot for me, and they made that pretty well known from the beginning. I lasted barely a year, and they suddenly threw me to the curb. I am not ready for retirement mentally nor fiscally, so this was a shock to my wife and I. Though she stood by me (and still does), it cost me a lot of anguish and self-doubt. I looked to God for strength and support and found it. I normally give thanks daily when times are good, but I found I had less and less to be thankful for. I didn't pray for a job. God doesn't do that. Instead, I prayed for strength and perseverance and the confidence to set a plan and get something even better than what I had before. Four resumes a week went out across the internet. Four. For 14 months. That took a toll. Days turned into weeks, past Thanksgiving and Christmas and then New Years, even my birthday -- all, who cares and big deal. Everything else sucks so I can't enjoy holidays. I accepted a local retail job just to make my brain work a little bit and that helped. I feel the Lord led me to that. It worked. My cover letters looked brighter. My conversational dialogs were cleaner and flowed. I found that I had more and more to be thankful for. Then it happened. I was pursued by a good, solid company and we made a deal. I am back in business. Even though I hadn't succumbed to drug abuse or too much alcohol, my demons were inside my head blocking my success. I always knew there was a way out, but they were still there, killing my chances. When I saw your brand Demons Behind Me, I smiled because that's just how I felt. Thank you. I will wear my first (of many) Demons Behind Me flannel with pride and a sense of warmth.
