*. You’re building a cute new wardrobe. Who doesn’t like nice new clothes? But also you’ll have a wardrobe that you can wear to a variety of jobs.
Yep. Some of the tops I've picked are more "fun"--perfect for Chico's, not so great for a more stuffy corporate situation--but some will be fine elsewhere.
* You like your workmates. Some may even remain new friends after you leave Chico’s.
It's so nice to work with good people. I was fortunate to like almost all of those I worked directly with at the bindery (with a few exceptions), and I was fortunate again to...not actively dislike the people I worked with at my previous job <g>. I was lucky to have great (immediate) management there. And now I generally like everyone...though I'm side eying the cracker thief.
* You’re working for a good company that has a good reputation for diversity; a company that hires and caters to older women; a company that has women in top leadership corporate positions. Oh sure, they’d be an even better company if they paid you better but let’s stay on theme and focus on the positive.
Hee--true.
*.A month ago, you started a job that you were unsure you could do. And you found out that, not only can you do it, but you can do it well and in your own softersell, non-pouncy way.
OK, I LOVE "non-pouncy"! I'm going to have to steal that!
You’ve had positive feedback from coworkers, customers and you manager and even been told that you have management potential. This has led to, IMO, the best positive of all: I can feel a palpable change in your attitude since you got this job. You’re less depressed and more confident and generally back to your usual upbeat, good-humored personality. Being unemployed for over a year in your fifties is scary and would get anyone down. You had to face age discrimination and learn how to job hunt in today’s world. It can start to feel like no potential employers value you or your experience. It’s amazing how fast you can come out of that funk once you are working again.
I *definitely* have been happier now that I'm working, even in my not-so great job. I think once I hit, oh, 70, I'll be more than ready to retire (if possible) and be a lump on the couch (or, more accurately, a lump on the recliner) again, but it didn't feel right not working, especially when almost everyone else I knew who was my age was. Though strangely, bff was unemployed all that time (I suspect she'd socked away enough to possibly retire if she didn't mind living very frugally in her golden years...I also suspect she WOULD mind that) and good church friend has been critically underemployed for at least a year now.
As for you store manager’s intensity, if she is generally a nice person, I’d cut her a little slack. She is probably under a lot of pressure and facing a bit of an unknown future since Chico’s was sold in January 2024 and has a new owner. Here’s a link to an article about that in case you haven’t already seen it:
I knew we were part of Knitwell but I didn't know that was a recent change. I can see SM worrying about losing what's not just a job but almost her whole life should things go south.
And, no, LOL, I’m not a life coach like Jackie on The Connors. 😉. I’m just pointing out some of the positives as I see them.
I think you could be a life coach should you get bored in retirement 😀
