When I was younger, I was pretty geeky. I found out very early that I was pretty smart and school came easily to me. I had parents who encouraged me to work hard and I could be anything I wanted to be. I was called a teacher's pet, too many times to mention. 

When I hit puberty, my hair became greasy, pimples began cropping up and my legs and underarms became pretty hairy. That was when the bullying really began. I was called greaseball, zit face, gorilla legs and several other choice names I won't put on paper. It was a tough time for me but I tried to keep my grades up and would disappear in my tree when I got home and read books. I didn't have many friends then and when the decision was made to move back to Florida when I was in 9th grade, I was happy for the change.

My self confidence soared when I was so accepted at my new school. They liked me even though my grades stayed up. I ended up with good grades until I graduated and continued to develop my self confidence. I have a lot of friends and teachers to thank for helping me but I never knew how much it might affect those around me. 

I have said, almost since I began working, that I would not work a job I was miserable in. I work the same way I did school. With my all. I give it the best I can and I think that should be recognized. So my whole life working, I never hesitated to make sure that I my concerns were heard if I had a problem. 

I have had people ask me if I am scared I will get fired? What happens when you lose your job? What if you make your boss mad? Short story is, I don't worry about it. If someone in this day and age wants you to not have a job, they will find a way to make it happen. 

When I was gainfully employed by the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group, I did a great job. I was always there. I could do just about any job they asked me to do and they paid me well for that job. I had my whole life planned out around that. Then I was called in a room, along with a bunch of other people, and told I would no longer have a job after a certain date. 

Then trying to find a job in the business that you had been employed in for 35 years was impossible. There just weren't enough of those jobs to go around. So at one point I was a 46 year old working 3 jobs to try and make sure my mortgage was paid. I didn't complain. Why? That would not have solved anything. 

So I learned that no matter how positive you are; how good at your job you are; how much you can bring to the company, if they want to let you go, you really have no say in it. So I decided to make sure that I did have a say. My say now is, "...so fire me. I will find another job."

My son brought this to my attention last night when he informed me that he was much happier now his self confidence was approaching the same level as mine. He was not scared to lose his job because he would not be able to find another one. He said he learned that from me. I guess there are worse things.