Whaddup Clay- I have similar issues w/ my stbx. No idea how she can afford to get by when she claims her income is $500 below her rent. That doesn't include food, utilities, and money to eat out as she does so frequently or to take a 10-day cruise w/ her BF, smh.
The truth seems to always come out at some point. Don't let it take you off your path.
my path is a winding uphill one. im now at this crossroads and im stuck in this place of indecision. school is going horribly for me. im not doing good online. i want to go on campus. i also want to switch my major. im not sure about it. i dont want to do electrical work anymore. i feel old beyond my age. my body aches everyday. i havent had a raise in over 2 years. im at the point where to move forward i would have to go out on my own. ive wanted to do that but my heart isnt it. i only became an electrician because my ex told me i had to get a good paying job and do it right now. with my record construction was the obvious pick.
ive been drawing alot lately and doing a few tattoos. i really have missed it. drawing was something i did to focus my mind my whole life. ive been designing tshirts for an event we are having. i really really like it. im going to talk to the career counselor tomorrow. i want to see what options i have to pursue a career in something art related. graphic design? web design? i dont know. something has to change. i want a job where im not literally almost killing myself everyday. one that i am excited to show up for. one where i can make it to my kid's activities.
i just dont know what to do. been super stressed about it lately. i dont like this feeling of not knowing. the problem is i dont trust my decision making skills anymore. im afraid of doing it wrong. i feel lost in a way.
im hoping to figure this out soon. i feel like im at one of those defining moments. either follow my dreams that i didnt think i deserved or just buck up and continue doing something that gets more miserable everyday because then i can still somewhat pay for my kids....
There are other choices, everything isn't black and white. But given that you have two kids to support, I suggest you evaluate things very very carefully.
- are you running TO something or just running FROM? Electricians do make good money. You're really too young to hurt so much every day, even in a physical job like electrician - have you seen a doctor? Rule out things like anemia or rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation can cause fatigue and aches and pains (as well as depression). What you're experiencing might be due to physical problems. (When I was a little girl, I gave up ballet - which I loved - because I was just too tired to do it. Eventually they figured out I had bad iron-deficiency anemia.)
- assuming your physical health is ok, and you're just tired of your work - evaluate whether it's really the occupation, or just your job that is bothering you. Maybe just changing to a different employer who values you more and is more pleasant to work for? Or maybe you need to ask for a raise?
- making a living in art or graphic design is....well....tough. It's probably not real feasible for you to just change from being an electrician to a low-paid graphic designer. You might need to think outside the box to figure out a way to make a living at it. And it might make more sense for you to experiment with it as a side gig first, before you make the jump from your current job. Also, remember the courts may not look favorably on you if you deliberately change to a much lower paying job - they probably wouldn't lower your child support.
- check out mr money mustache's blog - it might give you some ideas about how to set goals to gain the financial independence to do what you want.
first off.. electricians do not make that much money. that is a common misconception. we make ok money. unless you are way up a corporate ladder or contracting, earnings are not that high. i have made avg 35,000 a year for the last 5 years. not terrible but about impossible to do anything but live on.
the job i do is extremely difficult. i dont just wire houses. for 10 years i have been climbing 100+ feet a day. pulling huge wire that weighs on avg of 15lbs a foot. that coupled with the lifestyle i have led makes for a very sore person at the end of the day. i have had 3 knee surgeries and a recent shoulder reconstruction. i am breaking more and more every day.
i have been evaluating this decision for a long time. seriously for about the past 3 months. all day every day. it is the occupation. it is not fun anymore. it stopped being fun in 2009. i have moved all over the country to try to work. when work gets slow, you are either poor or you go find work.
just food for thought... a dish installer makes more money than the avg electrician.
I got fired from my previous job about 5 months ago and was scared to death but also hopeful that this would be a blessing in disguise because I also really disliked what I was doing.
I am now employed again and really like what I am doing but it is also stressful because my compensation is 100% commission based.
I hope you can find something that excites you and will allow you to move away from your current line of work.
not a whole lot. busy busy. work is still insanely busy. my boss is still a moron. for example.. we are doing a highway lighting job. instead of having me go trench 3 weeks ago when he "didnt have anything for me to do" he sends me out to trench when the concrete is done. the grade is done and we have gotten 4 inches of rain in 3 days. needless to say it took me 2 days to go 200 feet because the trencher kept sinking and truing to flip over. and yet somehow this is my fault for it not getting done fast enough? on a lighter note. i am getting caught up on some of my schoolwork. i am talking to all the right people and am getting support from them. it looks like i will be going on campus next semester. at some point i need to talk with my boss. i cant be working as much as i do. my school is suffering and more importantly my recovery is suffering. if he will work around my school schedule i may continue working there. i am now distributing itWorks for some extra income. we will see how this goes. so far it isnt to bad. mostly sells itself. i have done 4 tattoos in the last week. that has been alot of fun. i really enjoy it. i actually get excited and a sense of satisfaction when i am done. something about artwork really makes me happy. i feel peaceful when i draw. on friday, a group of my recovery friends all went to this coffee shop and sang karaoke. first time ever doing that sober. was actually a ton of fun. it is nice having a group of people like that to do things with. we are becoming like a family. we care about one another and enjoy each others company. i like it. got the "stadium"lights up on the backyard hockey rink today. it is so cool. i cant wait for it to get colder so we can put the ice down and play some night games. all in all, life isnt to bad.. it just feels like i am missing something everyday. i dont know what, but maybe i will figure it out. who knows.
here is the answer to the question... no i have not tattooed my red wings yet.. i am still working out the design..lol it's going to happen tho!
SIAS- backyard hockey is my thing.. it is so fun. i love the feeling of freedom. when my skates are gliding i feel like a bird flying. then i get to dig and shoot! best of both worlds.
Gineen- i say yes to alot of things and i also say no. i am trying to redirect my life into the happy zone. i feel like i am suffocating myself with stuff i dont like alot of the time.
i love my friends. they are actually there for me when i need it. and there when i dont think i do to! lol..
yes i sing.. play guitar. make beats on my computer. draw.. cook.. tattoo now.. anything i can do to get what is inside me out there. i love expressing myself. i am actually getting back into painting also.
so it has been awhile.. things were starting to get better than the ex throws in a monkey wrench. got served a paper informing me she is moving across state. 6 hrs away. taking the kids. on jan. 2 they will be gone. so now it is a whole new set of challenges to figure out and overcome. funny thing is i didnt get mad. sad for sure but there was no anger. it could be really good for the kids. bigger city with alot more opportunity. hoping the lawyer calls me back. trying to stay positive.
