fbpx
Menu

resa

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #72661
    resa
    Participant

    Kelsey,

    I agree, Maria gave great advice. I wanted to also offer something to think about. Sometimes it’s good to make a plan that is do-able. Whether it’s ultimately the direction you want, any direction is a good direction to get you started in life. I think when you don’t know what you want, it’s good to just get out there and start doing something. I know you’ve been trying, that’s not what I mean. I mean something solid like the Peace corps. Are you in the U.S.? You can pick what part of the world you want to work in. You can pick what type of project/work you want to help with. The all around benefits are crazy good. You will generate a deep sense of pride and respect for yourself and from those you meet throughout your life for your service. This is a list of benefits from their website, peacecorps(dot)gov This is just an idea. A lot of people use this for a stepping stone when they are in the exact position you are in right now. It opens doors and helps you get an idea of where you want to go from there, moving in a positive direction. No, I am not a recruiter, just wanted to offer an idea to possibly help you off rock bottom. Here’s their benefits listing:

    What Are the Benefits?

    Peace Corps is a life-defining leadership experience you will draw upon throughout your life. The most significant accomplishment will be the contribution you make to improve the lives of others. There are also tangible benefits, including the following Peace Corps provisions:
    Certain public student loans may be eligible for deferment or for Public Service Loan Forgiveness by your lender
    Perkins loans may be eligible for partial cancellation by your lender
    A “readjustment” allowance of more than $8,000 (pre-tax) upon completion of service
    Language, cross-cultural, and technical training
    Travel to and from country of service
    A monthly living and housing allowance
    Full medical and dental coverage
    48 paid vacation days
    Unique graduate school opportunities
    Leave for family emergencies
    Transition and job support and social networking after service
    Advantages in federal employment
    Opportunities for short-term assignments through Peace Corps Response
    No fee to participate

    #72133
    resa
    Participant

    Jerris

    It sounds to me like the people offering alternate ideas for you are probably doing so out of their own fear of having you go off into the unknown where they won’t be able to keep an eye on you. It’s hard for people that love you to not experience anxiety by your doing something adventurous. Because THEY will have to worry (they don’t really have to, they choose to). It would be so much easier on THEM if you just kept to a less exciting plan…… Typical parental behavior. They are not trying to undermine you consciously, but subconsciously I’m sure they are in full gear. It’s like when you send a kid off for their first day of school ever, you worry that the world may not treat your baby the way it should. So the best way to calm their fears (and that’s what it is) is to do your research, present them with exit letters of other people who have gone on this same adventure and are “still alive”. Let them see that this is a reasonable thing for you to do, that you will be well taken care of and that you are doing your research and are not going blindly. And seriously, do that research! That alone will give you more confidence in your decision. Reach out to other people who have gone before you and get some tips and information. The more you prepare, the less vulnerable you will feel to other peoples opinions. And there is never a fail in life. There are experiences. It’s what makes life rich. Adventures are the short cut to self confidence, trust and inner strength. Then you honestly wont care about peoples opinions, seriously.

    I say, look at the job at Ross as a means to an end. A great end. Just keep thinking about all the great things coming your way, keep a smile on your face and you will get through it. And where did you get the opinion on white versus woman of color determining how you are received? Seriously? Who put that junk in your head? It’s time to abandon the self doubt and start getting excited for yourself. Start laughing at people’s last pathetic attempts at keeping you a child. Just keep reassuring them. You’ll be fine.

    #72053
    resa
    Participant

    Hi Mermaid,

    I just wanted to say something that may be helpful. You say you are needing to be creative but don’t know how to jump start yourself in a direction. I think we creative types are prone to depressive states because we feel so much and if we don’t have a channel to funnel those feelings we get overwhelmed by them. And when you are overwhelmed, it paralyzes you. What I have done to get my juices flowing (and it can be hard to take that first step, but it has always brought me back to life) is to find a place to be creative with other creative people. Forget about the 9-5 for now if you have that option. It is not how creatives function anyway. Go find an art center. If they don’t have a job opening, volunteer to help out there. Or take some classes there. Take many classes there and find something that sparks your passion or at least gives you motivation to put your ideas into motion. Join a community theater group. Just get yourself out there with other creatives, because believe me, it will inspire you. And you can take all these feelings that are overwhelming you and turn them into art. That’s what art is. Feelings creatively expressed. Once you get going, you will feel better because you will no longer feel bottled up. I know you said you live in the country, but hopefully there is a town close by that has some sort of art center or such. Also, you can look for jobs helping or apprenticing in an artists studio. I have worked for a potter and taken classes in pottery, worked in a stained glass studio, learned how and made jewelry (which I currently sell in a couple of shops) spent years playing in community theater, am teaching myself to paint, and am moving into working with wool soon with all kinds of ideas of what I want to create. I’m not saying it will make all your troubles go away, but it will certainly put them in the back seat once you get going.

    What I’m saying is there are opportunities out there to get you unstuck. all you have to do is take that first step and you would be amazed at how you will be inspired to do more and will find your passion(s). If you find your community of like minds, maybe you will feel strong enough to move out of the home and closer to where you feel alive! Don’t underestimate how feeling productive doing something you love can turn your whole experience of life around. You will gain confidence in yourself and your abilities and that in turn will fuel you to experience more. It’s a path to self discovery and inner growth. And it beats the hell out of sitting at home sad, frustrated and paralyzed with nothing better to do than drown in feelings that have no place to go.

    #72000
    resa
    Participant

    Hi Spidey,

    Just saw this post (new here), but wanted to add something hopefully helpful….. I was that girl! Not that I am now and not proud of having been that girl then, but I went through a period when I was younger that I was not fully plugged in to how my actions truly affected others (men). I knew men were attracted to me and I played on that. Gave them just enough attention to get them hooked and then backed off as soon as they started wanting more. I had no serious interest in them (sorry) except to boost my own self-esteem. Some of them (I know this sounds harsh, but seriously, guys do this all the time) if I found attractive, I would start a relationship with knowing full well that I would never be serious about them, just to have fun. As soon as they would get too serious, I would break it off. Why I’m telling you this is because she is not into you. (sorry again). As others have said, she is using you for attention, to feed her self appreciation, and will continue to yank you around like a yo-yo as long as you let her. She doesn’t want to lose her admiration society. She is seriously NOT thinking about you or your feelings. If she really cared, she would not be doing this to you. Hopefully one day she will wake up and realize the actual real heartache she’s causing and be more considerate of people (men), but I’m guessing she’s young and not quite there yet. I eventually did wake up for real. I stopped dating for 5 years because I knew I was not ready to take anyone seriously and didn’t want to hurt anyone else. I spent those years doing deep deep introspection and heavy spiritual work. I wasn’t setting out to hurt people previously and I’m sure she isn’t either. She’s just not thinking beyond herself (as far as men go). Hope this wasn’t too harsh. What I really hope is that you untangle yourself and don’t let her waste another minute of your life. She may be a great person, but she would not be a great friend or girlfriend for you. Not now. Find someone who really shows they care. Consistently. Because that’s the person who does.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)