Dear Yonderbell,

You are not alone! I just did exactly the same thing – exited after 28 years at the same company, at the tender young age of 56. My “buyout” consists of 6 months severance pay and my lump sum retirement payout. I’ve had my ups and downs, and I don’t have a new job yet, but on balance I know this is the right path for me. From your story, I can tell you made the right decision too. You also were overdue for a change and your heart has led you here. Don’t doubt yourself – you know, deep down, what you need. This is because you are a survivor. That’s right – all those years, your company could have dumped you, but they didn’t. They kept you on. You survived – even thrived, because you have something to offer. You may not see it that way at the moment, but it’s true. You must not compare yourself to the 10% of the world that appear to be the most “successful” by some external standard. You set your own standard for success – you already have by understanding that your company was failing you. What good would it have been to be a “success” in that organization that you are leaving? Would you have really wanted to be at the top and run the whole thing? Would it really have made you happy? There are better things to do with your life, and Something has pulled you away from all that in favor of something better. That Something Better will come along soon enough because you are a perceptive individual, if you just give it a chance to work itself out. What you need is some trust and faith in yourself. Tens of thousands of us are facing this exact same thing, and we are all pulling for you.

Here are some suggestions:
1. Get yourself on LinkedIn and get recommended by some people you trust. They don’t have to be former bosses. You’ll be surprised by the nice things they will say about you.

2. Get reconnected with friends and acquaintances that are not part of the company you just left. Especially ones that have left that company and have been away for some time.

3. Tell everyone you meet that you are looking for a new opportunity. Don’t be shy.

4. Exercise every day. This is critical.

5. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else – you are on your own journey, and you decide what is right for you. As my wife likes to say, “Don’t compare others’ outsides with your insides”. Everyone has their struggles that you don’t know about.

You’ve done the right thing. It’s going to be OK.
Best wishes!