After 25 Years at Cisco, a Layoff Led Me to a Mushroom Retreat in the Netherlands
The Highest Point in the Netherlands
A year after being laid off from Cisco following a 25-year career, the author reflects on the emotional aftermath, the dehumanizing process of corporate layoffs, and his journey toward healing. He describes the shame, anger, and identity crisis that followed, and how a psychedelic mushroom retreat in the Netherlands—the country's highest point, as his facilitator joked—offered an unexpected path to acceptance and self-compassion.
After 25 years, not a single thank you received. I’m aware that wanting a thank you from a corporation is like wanting a hug from a vending machine. I wanted it anyway.
- CalRobert
Strangely, mushrooms are illegal in NL, but truffles are not.
- LoganDark
I love psychedelics! I use LSD recreationally every few weeks or so. I believe it's related to psilocybin (from magic mushrooms) by also being a tryptamine. Always love hearing about good experiences.
- pseudohadamard
The Netherlands isn't that flat. Its highest point is Mt.Scenery at 870m.