I have both a sad face and happy face for you. Sad that you got laid off, especially when the economy sucks, jobs are scarce, blah blah blah. But happy face that you got out of a place you hated. Sometimes you don't even realize how soul-sucking a job can be until you're out of it.

Let's toast to brighter futures and really cute bunnies. Because those bunnies are really cute. Squee!

I'm sorry to hear you got laid off before you were prepared for it but I hope you will use those office supplies and cute bunny photos to TAKE OVER THE WORLD MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA - um, I mean, keep yourself warm until you figure out what's next for you.

Also - what the hell is this bunny doing?

Oh dear :(

I'm really sorry. This is going to be rough, but I hope this is making way for something wonderful to come next.

Don't forget to get your exercise, talk to friends, and take hot baths (or whatever helps you feel good).

Man, that sucks. But yay for being out of a job you hated. Try to keep yourself open to all the possibilities for the future. And serazin is way smart. All that advice is right on the money.

Oh, ouch. But also: Oh, YAY! Freedom!

I sympathize with the fear of unemployment, but it sounds like this is, at best, a chance to move on to something that's a much better fit. I'm wishing you lots of luck!

Sorry to hear you got laid off! Enjoy your time on the government dole as best you can.

you have my condolences, been there, done that, got the tshirt.

Don't underestimate the power of de-stressifying from a soul-sucking job. Seriously.

I know it's hard. The single most valuable piece of advice I ever got from anyone when I was unemployed was: make a daily effort, even if it's only for 5-10 minutes at a time, to get some small task accomplished. Even if it's just picking up the laundry off the floor, sorting it and putting it away. Or taking a walk around the block by 8.30 AM just to force yourself to get up and dressed.

Not to say that you're going to sit around in your PJs until 4.37PM every day with the blinds drawn surfing the internet, then be awake until 2AM racked with guilt by lack of progress. But I do know, vividly, from firsthand experience that for me, without setting one, tiny, achievable, 5-minute task each day, to be done, no excuses, non-negotiable, by "x o clock AM" that it was all too easy for that to happen to me.

Cheers. Getting out of a shitty job is just like getting out of a shitty relationship. You will grieve, and people will say "holy damn wow dude you are SO better off without..." Yet, don't deny yourself the grief process, it's an important piece of moving on. And, most importantly: DO NOT let yourself, or anyone else (relatives come to mind) make you feel guilty or ashamed for being laid off. It is a circumstance you had no control over. Again, not to say this will happen, but OMG I have been there.

I would also encourage you to throw a HOLY SHIT I CAN'T BELIEVE IT I DON'T EVER HAVE TO SET FOOT IN THAT HELLHOLE SWEATSHOP OF MISERY AGAIN... party. Or a ceremonial Burning of the Shit Task List I No Longer Have To Accomplish. Or make a dartboard with a picture of your Pointy-Haired Evil Ex-Boss. That type of thing.

Sorry to hear that. I hope good things come from it.

Office supplies!

You were miserable, now you are free.
And you didn't get fired like Rick Sanchez, who totally deserved it and should have never been employed in the first place.

Make a post it animation. Breathe in deeply. Take some time to just exist, you'll have stuff that needs to get done with the nervous energy.

casarkos, I'm so sorry. May your unemployment time be short and happy.

Government-issued post-it notes for everybody!

Best of luck! I think lonefrontranger's advice is excellent.

On to bigger 'n' better things, casarkos. You will prosper.

Did ya steal borrow the good pens?!