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Old Jan 16, 2020, 08:04 AM
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Member Since: Sep 2019
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Originally Posted by MarcusAurelius View Post
Feeling kinda blue today. A lot has happened since I last updated you guys. I've started my new training which will last 7 weeks. It is a break from the anxiety inducing work I have to do, so I am grateful for that. A new position opened recently in the internal job postings, which believe it or not, I qualify for (The job will be available a week or so after I finish training). I went ahead and applied and updated my resume and wrote a cover letter explaining in part my situation (I have the requirements met, but technically I am kind of still a new hire) and of course selling myself shamelessly haha. I don't know if I'll get the job, but I would be so thrilled if it were to happen. My hopes are finding a job in my field though, so this is really contingency plan B. However, I'm wondering if I should really be doing this... at the risk of sounding pompous and conceited, I am well overqualified for the position that I only want as a plan B -- and I have a huge leg up based on my level of education and field of study. I could potentially take the position away from someone who truly wishes to stay with the company and move up and deservedly so. Now don't get me wrong -- this is a position I want, but I am afraid I'm really pushing someone out who deserves it more than I do. I just want to get out of the production floor and into my element. I may retract my application, I haven't been there very long and well, others deserve it more than me, enough said.

In the process of updating my resume and things I came across some old first year teaching and college work along with some photos of myself. I didn't recognize me anymore. That person doesn't exist anymore. The person who wrote those papers and lesson plans and assessments.... he is gone. I am so disappointed in myself. I worked very hard in college and my first few years of teaching. I had so much potential and now I am here. I've lost ambition and talent, to be sure -- but just overall demeanor. I don't even hold myself the same anymore. I know we all change over time but this is detrimental change and painful to look at where I am now and the lows I've hit along this path. I feel lost and sad. I just can't accept or believe this. I don't have the motivation or skill anymore to do what I used to. What was is now gone, and what is left going forward, pales in comparison.

I cried today. I just hate to look in the mirror and see who is there. Physically I am worse for wear and heavier too, mentally I am weak and frail and emotionally I'm an absolute mess. I know it's stupid to expect positive change without putting effort into doing it.. but I just don't see the point anymore, it's too far gone. I will never recover. Moments of hope flicker and disappear in terms of employment, happiness, relationships, family... but in the end I'm still where I am.

That's all I really got to say. Just to be clear I am not a danger to myself or anyone else. Please don't misconstrue my sentiments here -- it's sadness, remorse and self loathing, but I have no want to harm myself or anyone else.
I am so sorry you are struggling with all this, Marcus. But I do have to say, your repeated, harsh judging of yourself is probably doing as much or more harm to you as everything you are judging yourself about. Being mean to oneself is incredibly damaging, neurologically speaking. This has been studied.

I used to make tons of money, travel all over the planet, had the respect of those in my field, a reasonable, if not flawless, marriage. That's all gone. If I now compared myself, my life today, my "accomplishments" and "productivity" now, with what I used to do, I would feel like an abject failure and loser--instantly. Because I cannot do any of those things anymore. It just is not possible for me. Not realistic.

The recognition--and acceptance--that the facts of your reality are just different now is critical to helping you feel better, in my opinion. To move forward in peace. Wanting to todsay re-achieve or even re-live what you used to achieve in prior days is guaranteed to make you feel like sh**. So, my counsel is, don't do that. If you must judge yourself, do it based on today's reality, not yesterday's. Do what you can do. I am writing 2 books. Finishing them, really. I felt like crap today and wrote zero paragraphs. But I did not judge myself for that. I did not feel up to it today. Tomorrow is a new day.

I think you'll feel better if you adjust your expectations to match today's facts and reality. Just my take. I do hope you feel better soon.
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