Today a 14 year job left me. I was assured I would have a job but no.
it is not to be. I face a future darker. o will be ok
Well shit. More shit while we're at it. That sucks. If misery loves company here's some.
FWIW - I got laid off from a 32 year job about a year and a half ago. I knew it was coming and had 5.5 years to prepare for it, which my wife and I did like doomsday preppers. Even at that the day the call came it caught me off guard and hit like a ton of bricks. Fortunately my brother had just arrived and immediately applied some drunk therapy.
I got exactly the job I had been preparing for right away - and was f*****g miserable. Much longer story but I think sometimes it's a curse to get exactly what you think you want. I quit at the 3 week mark and said goodbye to my professional career. Otherwise I would have said hello to an ulcer, a heart attack, traffic accident or worse.
After much consideration I set out after a very different job that had excellent benefits - and got it. And then failed the physical. Why? Because the EKG showed a heart problem. After much $$ and testing it turns out that I am healthy as a horse and that the 'problem' is that my normal resting heart rate is very low - about 38 bpm. Used to be a distance cyclist and the Main Pump has benefited from that. Looks like a problem when they hook me up to an EKG though and it takes a cardiologist and further testing to interpret it correctly. Took 5 days longer than I had to get the medical waiver so I missed out on that job. And now the state is not hiring so, well, crap again.
Thought I'd go back to my profession and had to face up to the fact that the industry is changing quite a bit and age discrimination is a real factor. In the end all I got out of it was a few more shovels full of rejection. Wondered if I had a 'kick me' sign on my back. Felt kind of like I was running back to a girlfriend who had dumped me.
Fast forward to about a month ago. I took a part time job at a big box retailer because it's very local, familiar and I know people there. In reality I was mortified. But, even without the benefit of a Total Perspective Vortex I came to realize that it is giving me the peace of mind I have needed and I am no longer embarrassed by it. In fact, now that I'm in I see opportunities that exist that I may pursue. Admittedly, the money sucks but it'll do for the moment.
So I suppose what I'm saying is the job doesn't define you and that it will turn out OK no matter how bleak it may seem right now. Believe me, I understand all too well about money, health benefits and the like so I'm not trying to make light of it. It's just that I read your posts and figured you were surprised and are in shock, and I feel your pain. Again, sorry - but in the end it'll work out.