#19. Confessions of a Job Seeker – Dec. 2012
This series is based on a design journal that I kept between 09/12 – 02/13. New? Start here.

“Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Maclaren

The night started out well. I showed up, smiled, and on the surface I even enjoyed myself. All in all I successfully navigated the holiday party. I was saying my goodbyes when it happened. A friend stopped me, gave me a hug and asked me how I was. He genuinely wanted to know and was checking in because he’d heard that things were tough. The tears welled up and I was done. I don’t know where it came from, except that there’s something about the holidays that can amplify the sentiment of feeling alone. That night I was surrounded by people I knew, but deep down I felt like I wasn’t seen.

For all I know though, the people around me were wrapped up in struggles of their own or they simply weren’t aware. I’m not sure what the lesson is here beyond the fact that I think it’s important that we remember to see each other. What my friend did for me that night was kind and thoughtful. He was willing to see me in my struggle. He helped me to understand that just because others might not necessarily get what I was going through, it didn’t mean that they didn’t care and I wasn’t alone.