What is The Doldrums?
1.
a.k.a Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICZ)
Early sailors named this belt of calm the doldrums because of the low spirits they found themselves in after days of no wind. To find oneself becalmed in this region could mean death in the era when wind was the only motive force available, and it was certainly a depressing experience to be isolated, in the middle of the ocean, in a hot, muggy climate.
I am in the doldrums because I lost the race.
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2.
A word used by sailors to indicate a windless day. A geographical location that characteristically has no wind; causes a temporary and unavoidable stopping point. An event in a sailing regatta which causes all vessels to yield. In employment and financial terms, being unemployed and unemployable; a point at which being fired again has caused an unavoidable character evaluation from a jury of your peers; though not legally binding, court related, court appointed, or judicially enforced. See also, "the pits".
the movie "dead drift". Being in a properly functioning sailing vessel, all masts, ropes and sails intact, but lacking wind. Having sailed with good forward progress for days, the crew of the sailing vessel "Aggememnon" had to wait through three days of the doldrums. I had a job, but got fired again, and now don't have a job- on top of being unemployed, I now have to find a job with the knowledge that my next employer will not be very excited about hiring someone who keeps getting fired...someday I'll fly the spinnaker and break these doldrums.
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