It’s no secret that a local employer shut its doors recently, leaving more than 150 people without jobs, impacting many others through trickle-down impacts, and leaving a lasting impact on the community.

That closure highlights that we never know what each day will bring.

It also highlights that we have many choices in our lives.

I have said many times before that I believe having the ability to use our independent minds to make the best choices for ourselves is one of the greatest opportunities humans have. We should learn to use that gift wisely.

Here are some of the choices the closure should bring to the forefront of our minds, no matter how directly or indirectly we were impacted.

The way we choose to spend our mental energy and focus.

Studies have shown that we have a limited capacity for decision-making ability and focus in each day. If we use it up on things that don’t add value, then we are left with little mental energy to put toward things that matter.

How does that relate to the plant closure?

The people who are choosing to spend their mental energy thinking and talking about the things they cannot change, like how the company handled the closing, are wasting precious attention on useless thoughts instead of spending that mental energy on things that would make a difference to them. Like doing a personal inventory and assessment of their skills, values, and goals, creating a plan to get back on their feet, and then carrying out that plan.

The ways in which we choose to spend our money.

If you lost your job today, would you be financially set to go without a paycheck? For how long? Are you making responsible financial decisions regularly so that, if you found yourself in an unexpected situation, you would not worry about paying your bills while you search for your next career? Are there ways you could do better when it comes to your spending habits?

The choice we make as to how we present ourselves to others in-person and virtually.

It has been interesting to watch the different ways people impacted by the closure have chosen to represent themselves. Most of my observations have been on virtual activity, as I’ve had little interaction with anyone in-person regarding the closure. I have witnessed people use online resources (social media) to help them research potential new positions and ask their connections about working for certain companies.

I have also witnessed people using social media to make negative comments about businesses to which they submitted applications, to trash the business that closed, to bash potential new places they could work, and to badmouth others who were impacted by the closure.

The second set of behaviors I’ve observed are interesting choices of presenting oneself when you are trying to secure new employment.

The way we choose to frame situations.

This situation is certainly not an easy one, but it does present a unique opportunity for those impacted to practice reframing.

We can choose to dwell on a difficult situation and feel like a victim, or we can choose to see it as an opportunity to do something new. Those impacted can see the closure as an opportunity to reflect on who they are and what they want or adopt a static mindset (versus growth) and believe that was all they will ever be able to do and feel sorry for themselves.

I don’t like that this happened. I don’t like it for the employees or the community.

It cannot be changed.

That might sound cold to some, but change and struggle can bring about awesome things if we let it. The moment we fail to view something like this as an opportunity for better, we let the negative win.

For those impacted heavily by the closure, I have two additional thoughts to share.

First, in the overall picture of your entire life, this is just a blip. It may be difficult now, but it is just one moment. Your life is made up of many moments. Some are challenging, but you can make the best choices for yourself to get through it and end up even better on the other end.

Second is something I shared in a column before.

When my sister passed away, the most impactful and helpful thing anyone said to me was, “Never put a question mark where God put a period.”

That statement has stuck with me, and I’ve applied it to many situations ever since. This is one of those situations.

The action is done. It’s your response to it that matters.