Fog-shrouded railroad trestle in Alaska's Yukon region, with a white sign reading "GULCH" in the foreground and the bridge fading into dense mist.

Laid Off and Lost in the Fog. When the path ahead disappears, the next step is all you need to see.

There Is Life After Layoffs

Reading about the changes taking place at Comcast this week brought back memories I hadn’t visited in a long time.

In 2013, after ten years with Comcast, my department was reorganized and I found myself facing a decision. Relocate or leave.

I chose to leave.

At the time, I was 62 years old. I had a mortgage, responsibilities, and plenty of people who believed nobody would hire someone my age. My plan was simple. Take the severance, collect unemployment, enjoy the summer, and figure out what came next.

Life had other ideas.

An Unexpected Opportunity

Person standing on a rocky shoreline beside a glacier-fed lake with floating ice chunks. Snow-covered mountains and a large glacier fill the background, while calm gray-blue water extends across the scene. The person is wearing a dark jacket and jeans and is positioned near the water's edge. While on vacation in Alaska, I received a job offer. That opportunity became another ten-year career with a company that was growing and full of possibilities. I never got that summer off.

Then ten years later, history repeated itself. My position was eliminated during another corporate restructuring, and suddenly I found myself standing at another unexpected crossroads.

Having lived through both experiences, I can tell you that layoffs are never easy.

There is fear and uncertainty. There is often a sense of loss that is hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it. A job is more than a paycheck. It’s routine, friendships, purpose, and identity.

But there is something else.

There is opportunity.

There Is Life After Layoffs

Sometimes the door that closes is one you would have stayed behind forever simply because it felt safe. Sometimes being forced to choose opens possibilities you never would have considered.

If you’re one of the people affected by the changes at Comcast or any other company, take a breath. Give yourself time. Take stock of what you’ve accomplished and what you still want to do.

A layoff doesn’t define your value.

I know because I’ve lived through it twice. Snow-covered mountain peaks rise in layers beneath a clear blue sky, with a dark line of evergreen trees stretching across the foreground. Haze partially obscures the distant mountain, creating a soft, atmospheric effect and emphasizing the depth of the landscape.

Today I’m retired, writing, creating, photographing wildlife, building new projects, and enjoying a life I never could have imagined when I walked out of Comcast all those years ago.

The road ahead may look uncertain right now, but don’t underestimate your ability to adapt and reinvent yourself.

I won’t tell you layoffs are a blessing. They aren’t. They can bring fear, uncertainty, and real financial hardship. But I will tell you that a layoff doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

Some of the things I enjoy most today were born from those difficult years. Writing. Photography. Building Sights & Scenes. Creating WMEO stories. None of those were part of the plan when I walked out of Comcast

There is life after layoffs.

I promise.