How to Command Your Life Today

The Year is 2006 (P.S. –> Jane is “the author aka me”)

Janie sat with her counselor feeling frustrated. “I lost my job.” She had replayed the scenario in her mind multiple times and she had found no way out.

It seemed Janie had no choice …

… It was the day before Janie’s meeting with the counselor and she was checking her work schedule. The human resources person had numerous employees, so Janie did not feel surprised when she realized the correct changes had not been applied to her schedule.

Janie needed a special schedule because it was imperative that she pick her daughters up from school by 2:15 p.m. on particular days. She told herself this mistake could be easily remedied.

Janie knocked on the door to the HR office. She explained the situation. She was told the mistake could not be fixed because there was no one to cover the shift. Janie told the HR person that she could not possibly work those hours because she could not leave her children at school. The HR person told Janie that Janie would work the shift. Janie stated, “When the day comes, I won’t be here.” The HR person told Janie that she would be fired.

Janie promptly quit her job.

Sitting with her counselor, Janie felt defeated. She was worried as to how she would take care of her family. “I had no choice.” Janie explained. “I couldn’t leave my daughters alone at school.”

The counselor was quiet a moment and then he said, “You did have a choice. You didn’t have to pick your children up. You could have kept your job.”

Janie was unbelieving. What the counselor was saying made no sense. How could she put a job before the well-being of her children?