The headlines in this morning’s paper tell a great story. Shutdown Ends. No, wait, it’s not really a great story. Seems to be the end of an embarrassing story. You know the feeling of reading a trashy book on the metro and you hope no one notices? That’s what the latest federal snafu feels like to me.
Nevertheless, I do congratulate federal employees who are hitting the road or the keyboard this morning. I am also happy for lunch wagon vendors, dry cleaners, auto mechanics, hairdressers, restaurant workers, lawn crews, and day care workers whose livelihoods have been damaged.
As an individual, what will you say about this time when asked? Here are options I’ve been hearing–
- Laundry, closet cleaning, porch painting…
- Wrote a letter to your representative and both senators, requesting them to act like adults or you would fire them.
- Took a meal to a family whose food stamps were threatened.
- Kept healthy. This meant getting exercise, eating healthy food even when spending less on groceries.
- Volunteered at the nearest service provider which was suddenly unfunded (soup kitchen, park, day care center, school program, etc. etc.).
I am predicting that future job interviews for some people will include questions about the furlough time. Everyone will really need to practice the answer, with the goal of staying calm and professional. Stay tuned for what to say when asked your opinion. (And what not to say).