An Uplifting Moment...and Metaphor

As I presume everyone knows by now, the United States won their World Cup game against Algeria in the closing minutes on Wednesday, earning the right to advance to the next round.

Up to that point, the US team that was predicted to get past the Group Stage was teetering on the brink of elimination and great disappointment, despite suffering no losses in their first two games and being tied in their third.

Adding to the sense of frustration was that midway through the match, the US seemingly scored a goal, which was disallowed because the scoring player was deemed offside. The announcers instantly stated--and a replay showed--that the call was erroneous, as seemingly was the one that took away the Americans chance to win their last game against Slovenia.

But after playing a scoreless tie through the 90 minutes of regulation, longtime US star Landon Donovan scored the game winner during "extra time" on a rebound goal. In an instant, the US went from utter dejection to winning the game and also topping their 4-team group (from which the top two teams advance, England being the other). 

As I am not currently working, I was able to watch the game and to see the US win it in that fashion really made me feel good. Not just because the US won--although I am a proud American, I'm really adverse to overt "USA! USA!" fanaticism--but because justice seemed to be served and perseverance paid off.

And, although perhaps this only holds up only in my head, the game seemed to be a metaphor for what I'm going through as a job seeker. I've been out of work, at least in terms of a full-time job, for over a year, and though I try to stay philosophical and realize that many people have things much worse than I do, it certainly can get frustrating.

After being laid off from a job in which I received nothing but high praise for the quality and impact of my work, I've had a really tough time enticing another employer to utilize my talents (as a copywriter, creative director, etc). And when I did recently land what was supposed to be a 4-month contract assignment, it was shelved after only two weeks.

So like the US soccer team, I'd imagine, I've felt a bit snakebit. But I'm continuing to stay positive and do the right things, and I've actually been getting some calls from staffing firms about possible assignments. We'll see what comes to fruition, but as Landon Donovan and the US team proved, if you keep pushing and don't give up, great things can happen.

It only takes a moment (as the song, from Hello Dolly, goes).