[ddheal]

Hi,
I'm new to this group as of today. I've been unemployed almost four months. I'm a 54 year old single mom with an 11 year old son to care for, a hefty mortgage and so on. I decided it was time to seek out a support group as I'm beginning to loose hope in my job search. I've sent out hundreds of resumes, done cold calling, worked my network, attended all the workshops and seminars from my local jobsource office. I've done everything and still have received virtually no feedback. I've been on a few interviews but felt frankly that I was on a conveyor belt being 'processed' and told that there are hundreds of applicants to consider. It is a brutal time to be sure.

BUT...I am trying my darndest to see the opportunity in this time. I'm trying to use my time in new ways to make a new path into the future. I'm in graduate school in a new field involving technology because my old field isn't paying enough and is unpredictable. I'm volunteering at my son's school more and spending much more time insuring that he stays on track in his life. I'm considering starting a non profit organization to bring technology to kids who can't afford it. I'm trying to do creative things each day and read POSITIVE things in the news.

We can't change what is happening to our country and to each of us individually. It is happening and we have to deal with it somehow.

I'm really (at this moment) determined to make the best of this time and to push through the tendency to see my life as being washed up. I can't afford that thought.

So, I'd like to hear how the rest of you are coping....what are you finding to do that is lifting your spirits every day? That's where I want to concentrate.

[birdcrazy]

Well, I keep on applying to jobs, I'm not going to stop that even when I feel like giving up, and also I'm in talks with professors about getting in grad school next fall. I hope it works out.

[ddheal]

Originally Posted by birdcrazy

Well, I keep on applying to jobs, I'm not going to stop that even when I feel like giving up, and also I'm in talks with professors about getting in grad school next fall. I hope it works out.

I think you're doing a lot of good things! I keep applying too, even though 95% of the time, I hear nothing back!! I did enter grad school this Fall (Online through Walden University). I'm so glad that I did...even if I can't find a job now, I feel like I'm building something positive for the future. What field do you want to go into?

[Renovation]

Hi ddheal,

Your post is inspirational. I'm a 52-year old married male and had to close my business about 4 months ago. The company I started was a culmination of my life's work. I went from being the founder and CEO of a software company one day to unemployed the next. I am working on restarting the company but this will be a challenge.

Like you, I am trying to keep a positive outlook and am delighted that I found PC. I just joined yesterday.

God bless!

[John25]

This is a great attitude, birdcrazy.
I am really struggling with my motivation lately. Depression doesn't help either.

Originally Posted by birdcrazy

Well, I keep on applying to jobs, I'm not going to stop that even when I feel like giving up, and also I'm in talks with professors about getting in grad school next fall. I hope it works out.

[Perna]

My husband and I are retired and living on our investments so the past year was a bit worrisome. I reduced my credit card expenses $800-$1000 a month! It's been challenging finding new ways to still pursue interests but spend less money. I use to buy $100-$300 in books each month but now I use the library almost exclusively. I started giving to charities and selling things at yard sales and was able to close down my storage facility room I'd had for three years that was costing $100 a month, and get more comfortable at home because I'm more organized. We eat at home more often and I've met the challenge of cooking more by finding new recipes to try, often one or more a week and have new "standards" we love from that experimentation. I'm working to lose weight so eating less by buying less to snack on has definitely helped my food budget. I was having Deerpark deliver water each month but stopped that recently and have found alternate ways to help with my needs for water.