re: Life In General Just Feels Hopeless and Meaningless

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Part of me has thought about that over the year. I do enjoy driving and the open road and I know it's good money. With that said with the way people drive nowadays and some of the horror stories I've heard about how badly they work you (drivers constantly on caffeine trying to stay awake)it's always worried me. I enjoy driving but I've never driven anything even remotely big. Biggest vehicles I've driven are 15 passenger vehicles and Uhaul type vehicles and I didn't even like those. I also don't know how to drive a stick shift and I'm not sure if that's required or not.

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I was identifying with a lot of the stuff you said up until the unemployment benefits and then this shite here.

This post makes you really sound like a vagina. Nut up, man. Life sucks, accept it. Don't say shite like this because this really takes away any sympathy anyone is going to have for you.

I'm 45 and live alone and single too. I have a job, but I absolutely hate it. I've made some big changes in my life recently by moving to a bigger city that I always wanted to live in, but still working at home for the old job has really taken it's toll. Like I said, I identify with 90% of what you were saying. I've burned my life down TWICE in ways you can't even imagine. It's get better, but there are good days and bad days. Don't be vagina. You've already identified why you DON't want to be trucker, because big trucks are big and caffiene. That's a defeatist attitude. You have lots to live for but you can't see the dark in every cloud. Get a job, doing something. Go wait tables and try to nail a hot waitress. Do something that involves other people. Make a decision to WIN and get busy at least trying to play the game.

Saw you mention you would be interested in working for an airline. I highly recommend it. If you aren’t interested in piloting look at working the gates, ramp, or if you’re really bold flight attendant.

You’ll make more being a flight attendant but you get flight benefits regardless and you’ll meet people from all over the world and experience things you never could have imagined. I’m serious, do it. Also exercise.

TLDR

but I have to give some advice.

They make a pill for that.

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I know I'm poor compared to many of you OT ballers on here but pre-pandemic I made a decent wage of $23/hr.) We would have some options of overtime and occasionally even double time which meant you could pocket some decent money at times. While my job was only decently paying I would get 4 weeks of vacation time a year, 8 days of paid sick time off a year, 401k with a company match of up to 8% and full medical benefits. Like many of you the pandemic caused my company to almost completely shut down. The company has reopened but my department was completely eliminated in December.

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I’m sorry to hear that about your job. That sucks, especially because it was through no fault of your own.

But the first sentence of this paragraph was telling to me.

Step 1: Stop comparing yourself to others. Right this very moment. It’s worth saying twice. STOP comparing yourself to others. That is the downfall of so many good people. Our consumerism-obsessed society catalyzes envy and jealousy, which are the seeds of anger, despair, and hopelessness. Who gives a shite what OT ballers make? Somebody is out there making more than them. There always will be. There will always be people with more money, bigger houses, hotter wives/GFs, etc.

Your life is your own story, and nobody else’s. Live YOUR life to the best of your ability and stop worrying about what others are doing with theirs.

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I currently live in a different state from the rest of my family so I used the first few months of this year to relax as well as to take a vacation I put off from 2020 and take an additional trip to see family as well. Being unemployed I thought I had until September but living in Florida I now only have another month before I am completely cut off from the Federal Unemployment Benefits. I'm not making this political on which side I support but needless to say that decision was a huge blow. I thought I would have a few months to find a decent job and could afford to be somewhat picky. Now I have to be in almost a "take anything" position which isn't good for my mental health long term. The job search has definitely been disheartening as most of the jobs I've seen are pretty much in the $13-$17/hr. range, so I know I'm going to take a decent pay cut.

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Step 2: Get to work ASAP. Human beings were not meant to sit around doing nothing all day long. I say this tongue-in-cheek; I’m sure you’re doing something during your days. At least it appears that you are looking for a job, so that’s good. But now isn’t the time to be picky. Don’t listen to the “find a job you love” fairy tale advice. Find a hobby you love, and maybe someday you might also be lucky enough to find a job that you love. But for the time being, start working. Give yourself a reason to get out of bed every morning.

I’ve already given this advice before to others in similar positions. TONS of employers are looking for workers right now. They are desparate. So take advantage of that and get in while the getting is good, and work your arse off. Prove yourself, and that $17/hr will quickly become $20/hr and then $25/hr.

Back in 2008/9, young people were happy just to have a job! Now employers are basically giving jobs away. Take advantage.

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But if I'm being honest I just feel like the pandemic has revealed that I don't have much to show in my life. I'm mid 30's, single and no kids. While other people at least had significant others or families to ride the pandemic out with, I had no one. Being an introvert at first I loved the lockdowns and lack of seeing people, but even for me I'm tired of it at this point. As friends of mine focused on being with their families during the pandemic it reminded me of just how alone I am.

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STEP 3: Take care of yourself. And no, I’m not talking about that “self-care” bullshite. I mean get your house in order. Get your shite together. Steps 1 and 2 will help you do this.

There are five pillars in life: Spiritual, Physical, Financial, Social, and Romantic. If at least three of those pillars are strong, you’re in decent shape. Four? Your life is pretty dang good. All five? Rarely happens all at the same time, but whoever manages to pull that off has found the key to life.

This step is about those first two pillars. I don’t know what your spiritual situation is and I don’t want this to devolve into a debate about religion. I’ll just say that man needs a higher purpose to lead a truly happy and fulfilled life, and leave it at that. If you want to delve deeper into that, let me know.

Physically, get in shape (if you aren’t already). Exercise vigorously 4-5 times per week. The benefits of exercise and the confidence and self-esteem that come along with it are vastly underrated by today’s PC anti-fat-shaming society. I’m not saying to be shallow or vain. And you don’t need to become freaking Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV. But get yourself into a consistent exercise routine. You’d be amazed by how the endorphins alone will make you feel better.

Taking care of those first two pillars will naturally help with the last two (social and romantic). You need to learn how to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. And that’s what relationships are, whether platonic or romantic. Taking care of others. Relationships are about other human beings. They aren’t accessories or consumer products you can accumulate to make you feel better. They are meant to be self-sacrificial, not self-indulgent.

So take care of yourself first, and I promise you that friendships and romantic relationships will occur more easily than you might imagine. I’m an introvert too. I know what it’s like. But put yourself in the right situations and the rest will work itself out.

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have several medical issues that have caused quality of life issues for me and make me concerned about the prospects of finding a decent new job. My allergies and asthma have been absolutely killing me this year which has caused me to cough a lot. I also suffer from hereditary high blood pressure, GERD and some anxiety. I also have terrible vocal chords and in the last few years I feel like I temporarily lose my voice (at least for a few times) every time I get even a minor infection. I feel like most people my age do not have the issues that I have and it makes me feel isolated.

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This post makes you really sound like a vagina. Nut up, man. Life sucks, accept it. Don't say shite like this because this really takes away any sympathy anyone is going to have for you.

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No shite. Guy sits on his arse for a year outside of two vacations while on government income and wonders why he’s not fulfilled.

I'll tell you what my barber says

People
Places and
Things

Get yourself around the right people, in the right places, doing the right things. If you aren't in any of the three, start with 1 and the other two will follow

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You are overthinking life to the tenth degree.

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Nice post but “nth degree” is the correct saying.

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I’ve got my own pathetic post. Just like yours. I spent 10 months living in my parents house with a wife and son. 4 of those months I couldn’t find one ounce of income or job prospect.

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It took time, but I pulled myself out. I like to think I still am, but my life is light years beyond where I was. I am living a good life with hope and meaning.

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I remember a thread you started from back then. For some reason it stuck with me and I felt awful for you. Glad to see you climbed out of the hole and started fricking life in the mouth.

OP, I’m getting the same vibe from you, that I got from him back then. You’re whining but you’re here to listen and take action. Stringed is correct about everything. Especially Orange Theory.

Also, the second you’re financially able to, find a counselor that fits. That will pay off for the rest of your life.

You don't have anything holding you back. In a state you're not from, no woman or children. Your opportunities are endless. Nothing to lose, so to speak

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You've made this post multiple times on different accounts. Its a little different this time.

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I thought it sounded familiar too. Last time he was upset because he couldn't travel on airplanes, right?