There is a sort of stigma with being unemployed, a perception of having all the time in the world to do whatever you want. However, this stigma is just not true. When you have no job a lot of time is spent, ideally, finding a new job. This includes networking, interviewing, resume updates, cover letters, and all sort of other administrative work most people forget about when they sit on their cushioned chairs in their office/cubicle, surfing ESPN or Facebook until the clock strikes five.
With what time we have outside of looking for a job, most of us unemployed Americans cannot go do whatever we please. There is the little problem of no income that keeps us from visiting all the great museums, and seeing every movie coming out this week. The lack of income prevents us from driving across the country for no reason outside of saying hello. It's a frustrating thing, but one we all get used to until the day comes when we hear the words "you're hired."
And no, I haven't heard those words yet. But I'm hopeful.
In the time since the election, when I lost my job along with a great number of other Republicans that day, I have shaved a total of six times. Once was the day before I flew to Liberia. The second time was a failed attempt at shaving in a dimly-lit room in Zwedru using my blade and a mirror broken off of a motorcycle. The third time was the day before I flew back to the United States, using a full mirror but no running water. The fourth was for a job fair (which was a total bust, I might add!) The fifth was for no reason whatsoever and the final one was for a job interview that I had two weeks ago in Dallas. Why do I mention this? Because along with the lack of a job comes the time to find out if I like the beard or not.
I call it my unemployment beard. I let it grow unkempt for a week, trim it down, then grow it untouched for another week. I keep the edges clean, but don't bother with keeping it at any certain length. Does it look good? Probably not. I'm not a beard person by any means. But it is a nice reminder that there are still things I can do without the worry of committing a professional faux-pas.
More people should do something like this. Find a way to step out of your box, your little zone of familiarity, and jump into the deep end while you can. Unless you find yourself independently wealthy, or some mindless celebrity, unemployment is the only time you can really see what can be done.
There is an advantage for me doing this over others, I will admit. Most of my friends don't live anywhere near me so they cannot witness the Unemployment Beard. It saves me from hearing the incessant cries of ridicule I am certain to receive if they would see what I was doing. As they aren't here, I can roam the streets without fear of comment from any peer.
Having friends nearby, however, shouldn't deter anyone from growing their own "unemployment beard." Just make sure you don't commit to this while going to a job interview or on your first day on the job, hence the word unemployment. It's a time to be free and enjoy yourself. Plus, everyone will know something good happened to you because you had to eliminate your little experiment for the sake of gainful employment.
