Mr. Lifedefiner, who is both over 50 and currently out of the active regularly employed workforce, wants to share his first-hand experience, trying his best to emphasize the positive and find the silver lining in this very challenging situation.  In Unemployment Lessons #2, Mr. Lifedefiner describes the BLUE (better life after unemployment experience) seal of hope (helping others via proactive encouragement) ala red badge of courage that marks the fighting spirit of those out of work.

Stephen Crane’s novel, the Red Badge of Courage, was one of the most influential works in US literature, and depicts how fears were conquered in the American Civil War battlefield on the way to heroism and greatness. In a manner of speaking, the jobless are also engaged in a struggle, of which a search to have a job is one of the battles.  The task can be daunting and with the blue seal of hope, there should be “gold at the end of the rainbow” so to speak.  With all the factors at play – from inner strength to effective networking  – the outcome can turn out to be much better.  From red badge of courage in the US Civil War to the blue seal of hope in the current Great Recession, fears and insecurities have been overcome. And if it had been done before, it can be done again.