As I come from a profession where people with Masters Degrees work as
waitresses and sales people just to be available for real work when or if
it comes along. And as I was thinking about those two posts from people
who were downsized and how well they handled it, some questions began to
be formed in my mind. These singers are all of a certain age and moving
from one job to another is OK since they are waiting for the Real Job to
come along and since that real job will last only a couple of weeks and
then back to the restaurant. This kind of life is for the young the idle
rich or bored middle aged MDs who have a fat bank account. So I submit
these questions in the hope that they may raise other questions. The
process in number fourteen is one that I use in my work and is a focus
exercise for those dreamers who are asleep.
QUESTIONS FOR A DOWNSIZED PERSON.
(Purpose is damage assessment)
1. Do you work in a profession or do you have a job?
2. How old are you?
3. Are you married?
4. Do you have children? More than one?
5. Does your wife/husband work out of the home and is
he/she a professional or a worker?
6. Do you have strong/stable connections to your non-
work community?
7. Do you have a home? Is it paid for?
8. Do you have children in school?
9. Do you have any physical problems that can be exaggerated
under stress? Allergies, Immune problems, Substance
abuse?
10. Are you responsible for expensive processes or
equipment at work? Ex. $50,000 Crystal lenses
in a chip-lab that are ruined if contaminated
by dust.
ll. Do you have a medical plan that takes stress related
illnesses into account and funds psycho-therapeutic
relief? Or would you have to pay for any long term
therapy?
12. Do you have a retirement and does it give you the
security to remove the fear of poverty from
the normal stress involved in growing
older?
13. There is job stress, family stress, physical stress,
personal emotional stress. Are you able to
imagine a future where these categories will
be able to continue their separate existence's
and your health be maintained?
14. Make a chart that goes to the end of your life.
(Do not consider the space of the chart in years)
The left of the chart is your present, the right
of the chart is your death. Place a point where
you will retire on the chart. With that point
being number four and the point on the left being
number one place two more points numbers 2 and 3
where you achieved significant events in your
work life.
The local newspaper wrote a half page article
on your life and its significance to family,
community, profession, recreation and spirituality.
Would you do a quick recollection of just the
high points? When finished, look at the chart
and consider your present position in relation
to your goals.
--
Ray Evans Harrell
Artistic Director
The Magic Circle Opera Repertory Ensemble, Inc.
200 West 70th Street, Suite 6-c
New York City, New York 10023-4324
212-724-2398
mcore@soho.ios.com