Con #6 - Holidays
Everything tends to take on an extra layer of importance when you’re unemployed. The writing of a simple article is somehow tied to how much food you’ll be able to afford. The holidays are fodder for fluff pieces, but also reminders of how poor you are and how little money you have.
Being constantly in tune with the world at large will create a certain empathy to the seasons and the places around you that some might consider a Pro, but when it turns from natural appreciation to subtle mocking by nature it’s less Pro and more Con. This one’s tricky though. Here’s how it can suck.
Buying Gifts - I couldn’t afford Christmas gifts this year. I’m not a fan of the holiday and tend to shy away from it, but occasionally there are certain people I like to surprise and this year was a no go in that arena, save my six year old sister. It passes, but then again there’s always a new holiday on the horizon. Of course sometimes you get lucky, for instance being single on Valentine’s Day.
Writing Instead of Celebrating - I watched the Superbowl, but at the same time I was writing about the commercials. I didn’t even realize the game was almost over until the final 30 seconds because I was polishing an article. When you write for a living, every major event is a chance to make money, but it also means that the major event in question turns a little bit into work rather than celebration.
Having Tons of Useless Facts to Throw Out - With the writing of holiday themed articles comes the onslaught of useless information I have that no one else wants. It’s a bad habit and we all do it, every writer among us. We spend all day learning all these useless things; someone had better learn more about them, because I’m definitely not going to carry this useless junk around for the rest of my life. Somebody, anybody, care about what I have to say!
Holidays are a joy for all sorts of random, sappy reasons. I tend to not celebrate, but when you’re unemployed they turn into a matter of priorities, in which eating and surviving tend to float to the top. Goodbye holiday, hello potential payday.
Dude, it was on CNN.com this week that according to a survey, men are expected to spend $156 this Valentine’s Day. No pun intended, but maybe you’re right — it is the singles who are getting lucky this year.