My Weekday Daytime Freedom is Coming to a End, Have I Used it Wisely?

It wasn't until I recently accepted a full-time job ("job", not "opportunity") with a small media company that I reflected on the many things I've been fortunate to experience while freelancing (read: mostly unemployed) for the past two years. All the things that the value of "time" doesn't allow when you're employed full time.

Of course, you know now that job lasted less than five weeks (woohoo, a record!) before being laid-off. I was actually a bit relieved on several levels but the one that stands out in my mind is that I'm back to having time.

I'm also not one to sit idle and let life pass. As my blog title "Girl About Town" implies, that's what I've been out doing. Here's a list of some of the things I've done and experienced, in random order, after I gave two-weeks' notice from my last full-time job:

Worked for the fire department (yes, me) and various ad agencies that couldn't hire me full-time, gone to the beach & dipped my toes in the ocean, have had literally hundreds of lunches and coffees with old and new friends, have attended countless networking events (for those of you who knew me as a kid, know that I would never have dreamed of going to an event like this by myself), attended author readings, summer concerts, Zoo concerts, business-special baseball games, job fairs, hikes, chaperoned my niece's field trips and attended 5th grade with her for a special day, observed random foreclosure auctions on the courthouse stairs (how old-fashioned!), attended health fairs, completed a ton of volunteering, saved seats & lawn space for friends at events, attended Chamber of Commerce events, racked up hundreds of extra miles on my car, turned my kitchen into a bakery, attended webinars and seminars and workshops, gone shopping and run errands while there are no crowds or screaming kids, helped friends in emergencies, watched the entire Obama inauguration, taken classes, picked up odd freelance jobs in new industries, gone to fashion shows and retail events, graduated from Resume Club (I'm a dork!), conducted informational interviews, attended business women events, run airport pick-ups/drop-offs, Tweeted and FreshTwEated, blogged, LinkedIn, attended alumni events (even for schools I didn't attend), helped Mom when she had surgery last year...

Having these experiences (mostly good ones) has changed who I am. I've grown and learned and made new friends along the way. And to me, those are the best measures of the value of "time".

P.S. I am just about to accept a new full-time position, but somehow I feel this is more of a great opportunity than just a job. I'm excited about that! And yes, I truly believe I've used my "weekday daytime freedom" wisely!