Maturity means working rather than planning a hangover.

I have definitely reached a milestone in my life, where I willingly agreed to work at 10 AM after our annual Christmas party. I saw the stack of resume's awaiting the shredder and realized just how lucky people with jobs are. As a former employer, I know that people have a choice in who they hire, and even a choice in keeping someone once you give them a job. I believe that maturity comes with realizing, as an employee, that the job is not the lucky one to get you. I felt a little guilty actually, looking at the doomed resumes, and really hope the other people find something too. I am lucky enought to be a Sheehy, which is "merit" enough to keep a roof over our heads and our lights on. And Brian is fortunate to have found a great company to work for over 6 years, so he takes care of gas, credit cards and groceries. So, I do feel guilty that this may have been someone else's roof, or lights, or gas. But for us, it will be not eating pasta 4 times a week, not worrying that on the 2nd every month once the "Sheehy" money has gone to bills, we will have 45$ a week to live on, and I am really happy that even though it could just be a seasonal job, and I could have some more uncertain times while I hopefully establish my training career, for Christmas we will have extra. I think more than age, maybe it was being an employer that I saw how easily people can start to take their livelihood for granted and forget that the money comes from somewhere, and those people have a choice in who to give it to. I never regretted my choices of who to give it to, but it made me aware that even in a giant corporation, it does come from somewhere. I also learned through Miss Julie's that I completely devalued myself, which sucked. I worked for free for 4.5 years. The stress and heartache alone should have been good for 150K a year. But, that is beside the point for today! Today, I have a job, I will not take it for granted, and I will be delighted to trade my skills for money. For people out there who are still looking for jobs, don't give up hope, and for people who have a job where you are respected and paid, don't take that for granted.