Bye?

[dkersten]

   get professional help.   I hate the fact I had too………but I’m glad I did.

This is the hardest thing to do for some people, myself included.  It isn't a sign of weakness though, it is a shows you have the strength to do what is necessary, even if it goes against everything you believed about yourself.

[deadmoney5]

Life is what you make of it, not what it makes of you.  If things aren't working for you long term, time to change everything you're doing because you're doing it wrong.  Again and again it's "life isn't fair", well no, it's not.  But it is what it is.

 Insensitive, uncompassionate, worthless drivel.

 Tell me how Im not doing it right.. because I developed severe food allergies, to Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, and possibly other stuff.  (most likely GMO crud)

 Its quite easy to talk down to someone, and quite different to live in their shoes for a few weeks... let alone, experience the lifetime of hell they went through... and continue to go through.

 Ever been Robbed by someone?  How about by your own family?   Ever been 5yrs old.. and had a father duct-tap your hands. feet, and mouth... then start revving power tools centimeters from your head?  Threatening to cut you into little pieces, dump the parts in the ocean... where the sharks would eat them... and nobody would know???  I suppose thats my fault too right?!  Yup, Im doing it wrong man.   You sure got my number!

You see...what you did there...that's what I mean.  Stop blaming people for the ---smurfy--- things they did and move on.  It's done, there's nothing you can do about the past, but duct tape and power tools when you're 5 have no bearing on breaking into your place of work after hours and stealing water and electricity.  For the record, I would have fired you too, and yes I'm sure it would have been all my fault for not being understanding.

But hey, if blaming people and lashing out works for you, then by all means keep at it. I don't plan to offer any more advice, just keep doing what you're doing. For what it's worth I meant it as honest advice.  Seems like you're going down a depressing path, maybe time to try a totally new one..oh jeez, there I go again with my drivel.  Best of luck.

This is EXACTLY more drivel...like I said.  Dude needs professional help.  You said one thing right.."I don't plan to offer any more advice"

[Locke141]

In the real world, workers who are unreliable don't succeed (unless they have government jobs of course).

All of those lazy policemen, firemen, teachers, garbagemen, custodians, and every one in or working for our armed forces. They need to get real jobs and stop doing all that stuff that makes our way of life possible. I'm honestly happy for you that you got help when you needed it. However, I'd like to point out that you did think that this kind of help was a scam before you needed it. Maybe you should hold off on lumping the millions of people who work in government jobs in to one basket.  Other then this bit of judgmental nonsense I think you have lots of good points.

Xiaou2, regardless of how or why you came to feel this way getting professional help can make a huge deference. You should workout the how to get better with a professional. If your still in NY there are lots of free resources to help people get help. In NYC it's as easy as calling 311 find out how to get it. 
             

[Zakk]

Life is what you make of it, not what it makes of you.  If things aren't working for you long term, time to change everything you're doing because you're doing it wrong.  Again and again it's "life isn't fair", well no, it's not.  But it is what it is.

 Insensitive, uncompassionate, worthless drivel.

 Tell me how Im not doing it right.. because I developed severe food allergies, to Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, and possibly other stuff.  (most likely GMO crud)

 Its quite easy to talk down to someone, and quite different to live in their shoes for a few weeks... let alone, experience the lifetime of hell they went through... and continue to go through.

 Ever been Robbed by someone?  How about by your own family?   Ever been 5yrs old.. and had a father duct-tap your hands. feet, and mouth... then start revving power tools centimeters from your head?  Threatening to cut you into little pieces, dump the parts in the ocean... where the sharks would eat them... and nobody would know???  I suppose thats my fault too right?!  Yup, Im doing it wrong man.   You sure got my number!

You see...what you did there...that's what I mean.  Stop blaming people for the ---smurfy--- things they did and move on.  It's done, there's nothing you can do about the past, but duct tape and power tools when you're 5 have no bearing on breaking into your place of work after hours and stealing water and electricity.  For the record, I would have fired you too, and yes I'm sure it would have been all my fault for not being understanding.

But hey, if blaming people and lashing out works for you, then by all means keep at it. I don't plan to offer any more advice, just keep doing what you're doing. For what it's worth I meant it as honest advice.  Seems like you're going down a depressing path, maybe time to try a totally new one..oh jeez, there I go again with my drivel.  Best of luck.

This is EXACTLY more drivel...like I said.  Dude needs professional help.  You said one thing right.."I don't plan to offer any more advice"

Lol, no worries monkey, I'm done.  You guys hug it out and tell each other how unfair life is. 

[dkersten]

In the real world, workers who are unreliable don't succeed (unless they have government jobs of course).

All of those lazy policemen, firemen, teachers, garbagemen, custodians, and every one in or working for our armed forces. They need to get real jobs and stop doing all that stuff that makes our way of life possible. I'm honestly happy for you that you got help when you needed it. However, I'd like to point out that you did think that this kind of help was a scam before you needed it. Maybe you should hold off on lumping the millions of people who work in government jobs in to one basket.  Other then this bit of judgmental nonsense I think you have lots of good points.

Whoa.. wtf... ??

I never said all government employees were lazy or unreliable, just that when there is an unreliable employee, the government will keep them even if they aren't doing a single thing to earn their wages where a regular employer would be doing everything they could to get rid of that employee.  I have the utmost respect for most government workers, but it doesn't change the fact that the government will hold on to employees way, way, WAY beyond when that employee would be fired from a regular job. 

I have a bunch of friends who work for Social Security, and I get new stories DAILY about how inept some of these employees are and how they can't get rid of them.  It's a running joke there that a government employee practically has to murder someone at work to get fired, and even then they would probably just get transferred to another department (obviously this is satire, they only transfer when the employee makes threats, I am sure they would fire them if they actually came in with a gun). 

Unreliable workers usually get weeded out quickly in the private sector.  Even if the illness is protected under FMLA, they will get rid of you at the first opportunity.  And why not?  If you were paying someone out of your pocket to do a job and you couldn't count on them even showing up each day, would you keep paying them?  This is just a fact of life, nothing new.. 

[pbj]

[Zakk]

[ark_ader]

There was a patient I used to see at the hospital everyday.  He had tried to kill himself with a shotgun, but had only managed to blow his lower jaw off.   Horribly disfigured he is still alive today, and living a relatively normal life (reportedly). 

You are the fourth person I've heard claim this, and unless you're my EMT roommate from 2001, or the nurse neighbor from 2006, or the volunteer fire fighter - this injury is very common or you're all fibbing. 

Let me guess, it wasn't really your patient, it was one you heard about?

Victoria hospital, South street campus, london ontario circa ~2000.  Go ---fudgesicle--- yourself jim. I was the materials managment guy, had to come into the severe trauma ward every morning, looked at the guy in the eye for about 6 months 5 times a week.  He was fed through a tube in his throat, I could draw a picture if you would like.  I remember why I don't come to this place much, oh and jim go ---fudgesicle--- yourself.

 

[spoot]

Lol, no worries monkey, I'm done.  You guys hug it out and tell each other how unfair life is. 

EWE, I don't want hugs from you guys.     Yes, life isn't fair, don't expect it too be. Heck, if it was it'd be a bit boring.  TBH, alot of people who say they are depressed are not the ones to be concerned with(their dog died bummed for a month, etc).  It's the ones who hide their depression....those are typically the ones who suffer real clinical depression.  While I agree with you that a positive outlook helps (as then others around you are more likely to help out too)....it doesn't change the fact some of our brains simply don't create the proper chemical levels anymore or never did in the first place.......thinking about rainbows and puppies all day will not improve this.  My 2 cents thrown in the pot.   

[Xiaou2]

Life is what you make of it, not what it makes of you.  If things aren't working for you long term, time to change everything you're doing because you're doing it wrong.  Again and again it's "life isn't fair", well no, it's not.  But it is what it is.

 Insensitive, uncompassionate, worthless drivel.

 Tell me how Im not doing it right.. because I developed severe food allergies, to Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, and possibly other stuff.  (most likely GMO crud)

 Its quite easy to talk down to someone, and quite different to live in their shoes for a few weeks... let alone, experience the lifetime of hell they went through... and continue to go through.

 Ever been Robbed by someone?  How about by your own family?   Ever been 5yrs old.. and had a father duct-tap your hands. feet, and mouth... then start revving power tools centimeters from your head?  Threatening to cut you into little pieces, dump the parts in the ocean... where the sharks would eat them... and nobody would know???  I suppose thats my fault too right?!  Yup, Im doing it wrong man.   You sure got my number!

You see...what you did there...that's what I mean.  Stop blaming people for the ---smurfy--- things they did and move on.  It's done, there's nothing you can do about the past, but duct tape and power tools when you're 5 have no bearing on breaking into your place of work after hours and stealing water and electricity.  For the record, I would have fired you too, and yes I'm sure it would have been all my fault for not being understanding.

But hey, if blaming people and lashing out works for you, then by all means keep at it. I don't plan to offer any more advice, just keep doing what you're doing. For what it's worth I meant it as honest advice.  Seems like you're going down a depressing path, maybe time to try a totally new one..oh jeez, there I go again with my drivel.  Best of luck.

 Screw you.   I calling you out for being an Ass.  As thats exactly what you are.

 Number One, I didnt Break into work.  I used my RFID badge, got in, and at best, used .10 cents of extra electricity.  If you knew how much power was wasted there on a 24/7 basis... you would realize that the comparison ratio would be like peeing into the ocean) 

 Other Ops were there, fully aware of my presence and situation.   Additionally,  Id often help out or learn new things during my pop-ins.   I wasnt hiding nor sneaking.  I was fully aware of all cameras and tracking avenues.   I wasnt however, aware of a certain rule about carrying in / out personal items... partly due to the fact that everyone there does it... including non contract workers.

 Number Two,  the showers were free for anyone to use.

 
 And lastly, telling me  "Im doing it wrong"  is not Constructive and Positive advice.   Its mocking, Insulting, Insensitive, and Presumptuous... and far many more adjectives that all add up to words of an Obscene nature.

[chopperthedog]

Thank you internet.



good day.

[lilshawn]

Even D-heads deserve some compassion, if even only once.

---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- happens. Don't let it get to you. Just trudge on knowing it can always be worse. Climb out of the shitter, wash off and start again. Consider it a learning experience.

[CCM]

 If you knew how much power was wasted there on a 24/7 basis... you would realize that the comparison ratio would be like peeing into the ocean) 

Completely irrelevant...

Other Ops were there, fully aware of my presence and situation.   Additionally,  Id often help out or learn new things during my pop-ins.   I wasnt hiding nor sneaking.  I was fully aware of all cameras and tracking avenues.   

Were these 'Other Ops' your bosses?   If not, it doesn't matter if they knew... the only one that counts is your boss and if you didn't clear it with them first, then you really don't have anyone else to blame but yourself.   If you did clear it with your boss first, then there is certainly more to this story that you are not telling us.

[Vigo]

Not pretending I know the situation, but I have heard both the "My badge gave me access" and the "Others knew I was here" arguments at my work, and those firings were well justified. Granted, they were both said by temp employees and not regular staff. I think you need some tenure before people know you enough to understand. (BTW, have you checked temp agencies for work?)

A big separation of the free shower facilities at my work is that they are intended to be a convenience during your work day, so you can exercise and shower and get back to work inside your work shift hours. I think if any employee came in at night to shower and do personal things it would be suspicious. The extent of facilities open for employee use ends with the normal workday.

Bosses can be be pretty understanding, and if you had a situation, in a lot of cases, they would be understanding and work out a soultuon. If you don't feel comfortable telling your boss exactly what you are doing ahead of time, then you are almost definitely doing something wrong.

I'm not pointing this out to be an ass at all, it is something to keep in mind during your next job so you are not on the rocks again. I feel for your situation, but I have seen enough employees bounce from job to job because they don't fully understand the natural boundaries at a workplace, and they let a tough personal life repeatedly interfere with how they are perceived at work. We just had an employee come and go who doesn't own cooking facilities, so she bought all her groceries and stored them in the break room fridge, and cooks a couple hours per day in the lunch room using multiple microwaves and half the dishes in the cabinet. She made breakfast, lunch and dinner from scratch, which I get is much cheaper and heathier, but a breakroom isn't really a place to dice onions or scramble eggs. Plus, our fridge was filled to the brim and smelt. She would stay extra long to make up for her time cooking (which was an issue as well), but she was canned heavily because she was abusing the facilities. She did this at her prior two jobs and was fired because her bosses were suspicious of her as well. I feel bad for her living situation, but she had the opportunity to have a career here if she had learned to work out a less intrusive solution until she saved enough to improve her conditions.

[leapinlew]

 If you knew how much power was wasted there on a 24/7 basis... you would realize that the comparison ratio would be like peeing into the ocean) 

Completely irrelevant...

I get that you are saying it's irrelevant as a defense, but I think it's relevant as it gives some insight to the thoughts of Xiaou.

Xiaou shouldn't really be discussing if his actions were just or not, but instead be learning how to not let this happen again. If I was your boss, and I learned of your situation, I would have provided you some guidance, or I would have told you why you can't do it. Either way, I would be protecting you to ensure you either have permission or stay employed.

Good luck Xiaou. I know times are tough right now, but you have to look forward and put as much positive spin on it as you can.

[dkersten]

I could walk into a bank, walk behind the teller desk and help myself to some cash while fully aware of the cameras and watching others do the same, but just because I was capable of doing it, it would be illegal, even if I worked there.  Whether the others had permission or not is irrelevant to my situation.  There is a difference between being able to do something and having permission.  The note here about boundaries is one that should be heeded.  You can live by the creed of "asking forgiveness is easier than asking permission" in your private life, but when dealing with a professional situation it is completely different and permission is a must.

That being said, there is no further reason to beat this dead horse.  The guy is down on his luck, some people showed compassion and offered advice, it wasn't taken in that spirit, and that is probably part of the reason things got to where they are.  Everyone can have bad luck, be at the wrong place at the wrong time, or just get screwed because of things totally out of your control, but as a whole, your decisions in life are what influence the results.  If you can't accept that and decide to make changes, chances are it will happen over and over again.

[CCM]

Everyone can have bad luck, be at the wrong place at the wrong time, or just get screwed because of things totally out of your control, but as a whole, your decisions in life are what influence the results.  If you can't accept that and decide to make changes, chances are it will happen over and over again.

This...


Nowhere in any of Xiaou2's posts does he take even an ounce of responsibility for his own actions....

[lilshawn]

still, people are still people regardless if you are the boss or if you work for the boss. As tough as nails as some people can be, they can always have some compassion, whatever the circumstances.

I'm sure all this mess probably could have be avoided if he had said to his boss, "Hey, I'm kinda down and out for a bit,  I'm hoping to be back on track in a few weeks. you mind if i come in after hours or before shift and use the shower?" i'm sure he probably wouldn't have objected...and if he had, you'd know right?

hindsight is always 20/20.

[Zakk]

Lol.

"do you know how much money a bank spends every day?  It doesn't matter that I stole some, the other bank employees saw me taking some after my shift and were okay with it"

[jonnylbluejeans]

This may sound like a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- post, but if I was stuck in the hood with no cash, job, healthcare, food or prospects... KLOV would be the last place I'd be. 

[lilshawn]

KLOV would be the last place I'd be.

 

[jonnylbluejeans]

KLOV would be the last place I'd be.

 

Hahahahaha LOL.... Too funny.  I'm still laughing.  I hate tapatalk right now.  Heheheh "...or this board right here 'twingalaxies'"

[yotsuya]

KLOV would be the last place I'd be.

 

or this board right here 'twingalaxies'

Doublefail!

[jonnylbluejeans]

KLOV would be the last place I'd be.

 

or this board right here 'twingalaxies'

Doublefail!

that second one was for comedic effect... obviously missed the mark.  I'll own the first one though.

[RayB]

TL DR most of this 2nd page...

Positive outlook won't accomplish anything unless it's coupled with a life-plan. Come up with a life-plan, some goals and then break down the steps to accomplishing them. Make the smaller broken down steps your daily focus. It has to be what you think about every day and work towards making progress. And treat every minute as valuable. Every minute wasted on something like this forum is a minute wasted forever.

[dkersten]

TL DR most of this 2nd page...

Positive outlook won't accomplish anything unless it's coupled with a life-plan. Come up with a life-plan, some goals and then break down the steps to accomplishing them. Make the smaller broken down steps your daily focus. It has to be what you think about every day and work towards making progress. And treat every minute as valuable. Every minute wasted on something like this forum is a minute wasted forever.

Actually I think the most important message is if you don't take responsibility for what happens to you in life the same things that get you down today will continue to beat you down the rest of your life.  It is just easier to accept that your decisions got you to where you are in life if you have a positive outlook.

[BadMouth]

My own life sucks.  I got empathy, but no advice.

[eds1275]

My take on this is that xiaou2 is ALWAYS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING and has the analogies to back that up. This is just another girl on a trampoline. He's totally not in the wrong at all.

[ark_ader]

X2 trolling about his bad luck?

I don't think so.  He's had some questionable posts in the past, but has shown time and time again to provide some thought provoking material which had merit.

Trying to ridicule him or kicking him when he is down (in your posts) is a far worse crime than trolling.

And should be reported as such. 

[Xiaou2]

X2 trolling about his bad luck?

I don't think so.  He's had some questionable posts in the past, but has shown time and time again to provide some thought provoking material which had merit.

Trying to ridicule him or kicking him when he is down (in your posts) is a far worse crime than trolling.

And should be reported as such. 

 I didnt expect this post from you, but I Thank you greatly for it.   Also, thanks for those with some compassion and empathy.

 I never said, that I was never  "in-the-wrong".   I did what I Needed to do, to survive... The only decent options I had left, at that time...  and these options were the least impactful on others...  Meaning, I was trying to pull myself out of a hole, rather than to burden others via indirect means (taxes..etc.).

 Furthermore, EDs, Im human, and Ive been wrong more times than I could possibly remember.   And thats exactly how Ive come to be more right than wrong, in Many areas of expertise.  With passion, dedication, lots of effort, and lots of previous failures in the process.  Just because you have not seen all the steps Ive fallen (or been kicked) down, does not mean that I do not have the scars to prove it.  I also tend not to speak on subjects that I do not know much about. But defend heavily, what I believe to be true... and or have vast experience with.   Still, memory has failed me a few times on details..  and Ive still made errors, and probably will again sometime.

 That said...

 Positive thinking is like "Wishing"  for money to fall out of the sky.    It didnt help unmax my locked credit cards.  I didnt help, repair the minivans two bad bearings, blown coolant pump, 2 bad front struts, bad brakes, and now a bad power steering leak, that have all hit within a span of less than a year.

 Its easy to say what you think you could or would have done.  But you have Zero idea about the Reality of the situation.  You dont know what its like to be reeling in pains on a random basis, dealing with stress of abusers,  and not having anyone reliable to help...  including having family with mental illness, that are fully willing to stoop to stealing your most valued belongings.

 This post was merely meant to say, I might not return... and thanks for the fun.   That I was in a dark place, and in real trouble.  Im feeling a little better .. (though still in a really bad situation)  but the reality is that each day is a real struggle for me.   I dont have a family to help me, no current girlfriend, a 13,000$ and climbing debt hole... and a lot of health issues that are going to get even worse as I age.

 Ever wonder why some of my past posts were so coarse?   And frequent?    That happens when you are sick for over 10yrs,  getting sicker and sicker each year  (unknown at the time, was allergic to wheat) ... and barely had the energy to get out of a chair, after work.  (rather than do arcade projects, and or other fun / constructive things)  It also sapped me of nutrients,  that caused my whole brain and body chemistry to shift...  into a  "bad-mood"  state.


 Much of the advice given, was the equivalent of telling a Nazi captured Jew,  to "Think positive",  "Be Happy" ,  and  "Next time... dont get caught in Germany" !!!   Come on people, lets be real.   You cant mood or wish your way out of these things.  And the funny thing that happens when you do get in over your head... is how many people turn and look away,  as you slide off the cliffs edge... rather than to extend a helping hand.  The thing is...one day, you too may be sliding off the edge... and not be able to be saved nor to be able to pull yourself out of the hole that your being sucked into...  and then, what will you think of your previous stance?


 Some people will say.... the glass is half full.   
 The others...  The glass is half empty...   

 But Im a realist...  and the truth is, that the glass is Both half full AND half empty.
I dont "Color" my reality anymore.  I take it "Straight Up"  as it truly is.

 I didnt ask for anyones help, advice, or anything else.   I merely came to say my possible goodbye's... and to vent my situation.


 I realize, that there are always going to be those who do not have much compassion, and or their ideas of it... are very much skewed.
That there are people whom are shallow, judgemental, and make wretched presumptions.
Those whom follow the "System", doing its Deeds... no matter how wrong they may truly be.

 And yet, there remains a faint hope...  that many will follow better examples, from those whom shine bright as the stars.

 Humanity's best qualities, are  Compassion, Empathy, Patience, and Love.

[dkersten]

Soooo.. what you are saying is you wanted people to just feel sorry for you and not to actually get advice on what might help you to get through it and get out of the rut you have been in your whole life?

For someone who has based so many arguments on meditation, self control, and martial arts, you seem to have the exact opposite attitude and demeanor of someone who is at peace with themselves internally. 

You can take the advice given or not, that is up to you, but I can tell you from experience I have been in far more debt than you, and had far more financial responsibility (3 kids and a wife) at the same time.  Having a positive outlook on life and not letting the negative drown me is a big part of the reason I am now financially stable and able to not lose sleep over whether I will have a roof over my head.  It took years of hard work too, but mostly it took having the confidence in myself that I can overcome anything life throws at me.  If you don't believe that then you might as well hang it up now because there is no "ship" that will just come in for you one day.  You make your own fate.  The old saying that good things come to those who wait is wrong, good things come to those who work their asses off for many years and make more right decisions than wrong ones.

Admitting you have made mistakes is good, but if you attach conditions out of your control to it, you might as well not even admit you made mistakes.  If I said, "I made a mistake and drank too much, but I had a bad day and my friends wouldn't stop buying be drinks," then all I am saying is "I couldn't control myself, my friends and my past dictated what I did and it will happen again because I have no control over it."  Instead, just tell yourself, "I made a mistake, and next time I will try not to."  That is owning your mistakes and keeping a positive outlook.

Good luck, I sincerely hope things continue to get better for you.

[BadMouth]

You can take the advice given or not, that is up to you, but I can tell you from experience I have been in far more debt than you, and had far more financial responsibility (3 kids and a wife) at the same time.  Having a positive outlook on life and not letting the negative drown me is a big part of the reason I am now financially stable and able to not lose sleep over whether I will have a roof over my head. 

Ok, now imagine you didn't have a wife or kids as motivation and it's ingrained in you that you aren't deserving of anything because as a child you were treated as worthless.

[pbj]

$13k in debt?  Good lord.  I'd get on my knees right now and blow any of you to only have $13k in debt.

[dkersten]

You can take the advice given or not, that is up to you, but I can tell you from experience I have been in far more debt than you, and had far more financial responsibility (3 kids and a wife) at the same time.  Having a positive outlook on life and not letting the negative drown me is a big part of the reason I am now financially stable and able to not lose sleep over whether I will have a roof over my head. 

Ok, now imagine you didn't have a wife or kids as motivation and it's ingrained in you that you aren't deserving of anything because as a child you were treated as worthless.

I would then have two choices:  curl up in the corner and give up or put my head up and forge ahead and try to make a better life for myself. 

I get it, PTSD is a tough thing to overcome, and just having a positive attitude is not something that will just make it go away.  But if you are actually trying to get over it, nothing will kill your chances faster than waking up and deciding automatically that life is going to ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- on you anyway so why even try.  Your outlook on life is what will determine your success in overcoming obstacles. 

[dkersten]

$13k in debt?  Good lord.  I'd get on my knees right now and blow any of you to only have $13k in debt.

That was my thought, only as it applied to me 20 years ago (about $20k back then, which equates to about $40k today).  Today I am proud of the fact that my only debt would be my house, although seeing a 6 figure debt each month sucks, especially since I would be paid off in 2 more years if it weren't for my divorce.

You want to hear something even more sickening than $13k in debt?  How about having to borrow $65k against your house to give to your ex wife and watch her piss it away in less than 6 months while your kids don't see a single thing from it (and have nothing to show for it whatsoever)... It sucks to be $65k further from ending my mortgage almost as much as it sucks to see equity I worked for 20 years to build up get pissed away. 

But I have it good, because that mortgage is my only debt and I can more than afford the payments.  My ex wife on the other hand.. well, on top of the $65k she pissed away, she wrote another $35k in bad checks that are catching up to her these days.  She tried to get on permanent disability because she is a hypochondriac (officially she claimed she couldn't work because of headaches) and ended up losing a $45k per year (with great benefits) job and now can't find anything better than $9 per hour.  She lost her apartment just before Christmas and is pretty much homeless, living with whatever guy she can convince to let her sleep over, which means my 2 daughters are with me full time and can't spend time with their mother because she doesn't have a place where they can visit.  On top of this, she remarried a few months after our divorce and the guy was abusive and then attempted to kill her (he is in prison for 15 years).  My kids are traumatized over that as well.  Oh, and about the time her new husband was headed to prison, her mother died from Cancer.  As if that wasn't enough weight on her shoulders, her father (who lived in another state with her step mother) died a week later.  She lost both her parents in one week.

I feel for anyone who is going through a rough time, but things can ALWAYS get worse... If you really want tales of hardship, I could go on for hours.  We all could, I imagine.  But when I look at my life I feel nothing but blessed.  Not because I had it easy, but because I could have had it way worse.  Tomorrow could be the worst day of my life for all I know, but I am not going to go to bed worrying about it or believing that will be the case because that won't solve a single thing.

[lilshawn]

$13k in debt?  Good lord.  I'd get on my knees right now and blow any of you to only have $13k in debt.

I just bought a house this month, I'm knocking at half a mil now. I ain't no doctor either.

least i'm paying towards something that is mine instead of someone else's mortgage.

[ark_ader]

$13k in debt?  Good lord.  I'd get on my knees right now and blow any of you to only have $13k in debt.

13K?  Jeepers!  I thought I was bad since I have only 3K in debt (soon to be paid back).  I'm trying to find that credit score sweet spot, so I can also buy a house and be like the rest of you.  Let us hope the economy keeps chugging away.

I've said it before, but let us stop taking the piss out of X2.  He is doing better, and we should applaud him for it.  I've been there on the ropes and I can tell you it is very upsetting. 

It would be quite demoralising to hear such negative remarks.  I do believe there is a rule in here for it.  Any mod wants to chime in?  Just reading these few posts, needs some corrective action.   

[pbj]

He aired it out, got predominantly supportive feedback, and now.... Well, cmon, dude. 

 

We're all rooting for him. 

 

[Zakk]

I'm actually not rooting for him at all.  Just for the record. 

I'm carrying almost 2 million in debt.
I have 4 kids to support (2 of them are vegetarians!)
I have been to prison.
I had to sign the paper to stop my dad's heart when he had catastrophic brain trauma but his body didn't know it.
I was told a year or two ago that I had months to live (was a mistaken prognosis).
I almost died from a caesar salad.
We had to bury my sister in law and help keep her two kids out of psych hospitals because their dad is an ---uvula---.
My mother is a die hard liberal. 

The difference is I'm not in here whining about it, then screaming a hissy fit when someone says "hey, look at the bright side".  I'm actually a very happy person all around. I don't blame anyone for my problems.  I don't look for s scapegoat at every turn, and I don't expect society to carry ---my bottom--- around. 

[Le Chuck]

You know who wins in the contest of who had it worse?  The internet.  And the internet is satisfied with this thread.