Need some motivation in life

Hey everyone, Im sorry if this seems like a sob story but have nowhere else to turn.

Up until last year I had a full time job, a house with the then current girlfriend, a yard, a dog.... You know, the American dream.


Well last year I lost my job and got on the unemployment band wagon. I struggled each month to make sure my bills were paid but fell behind. The girlfriend and I separated on good terms due to both of us making a mistake or two on the other. We are still talking and go out on dates so thats one good thing in my life.

I scrap on the side to help with cash as unemployment doesnt even pay me half of what I was making. Ive been looking for another job but no dice. Ive made a single mistake in my past which bars me from most jobs due to a background check. I was even denied at wendys.... I wake up each day thinking to myself that this will be how my life will be until the day I die.

I try my hardest to make an honest buck and have the support of my family, including my grandmother who lets me stay at her nice house until I get myself out of this slump. Im just not sure if I will be able too. Unemployment runs out in December, scrapping cash I make isnt much due to me scrapping out of my car, I see myself as a hands on guy and can figure things out easy, but not being able to get a regular job and all the other unemployed taking any sidework available just leaves me feeling depressed....

Not sure if it is just Illinois, myself, or just the economy to blame or all of the above.




Sorry about the rant, I just had to type it somewhere....

Ive made plenty of "mistakes" that have ended up with me having a very.. colorful background check. But those were the choices I made living on the end of a needle and just being a dumb kid.

Now I have almost three years clean, 2 kids a full time job a woman who loves me and I see the world and myself in a totally different light.

I have found that its very easy to get down and out about myself and the situation I am in and focus on that instead of doing something about it. Just remember that the only way to move forward is to live in the solution and not the problem. It might not be my fault I am down, but it is my responsibility to get back up.

Hey. Are you listening to me? YOU CAN DO THIS BRO!!!!! Your gma cares about you. Your girl cares about you. Heck just look at the response you are getting from strangers on an internet forum. Even we care about you and know that you can do this a!!

Hey even if you're going two feet forward you're going forward.

Good Luck bro!!!

Just my two cents but quit whining its hard out here for a lot of us but the complaint dept is closed.
Why don't you just give up and be a bum
You still would end up collecting cans.
I've made a couple mistakes in my past never held me back

Never quit
Never back down

One thing I know about being at the bottom of the barrel of life is that there is nowhere to go but up.
Unfortunately all there is to see when you look up are all the a$$holes and elbows in the way.
You have to suck it up and work around them to make things better for you and yours without compromising integrity.
By the way.
You ain't alone, just look around and you will see that there are always a lot of people in much worse shape than you.
I have given away my last dollar more times than I can count because I felt it would do someone else more good than me.........I was wrong.......it made me feel as good as it did them.
A little humility goes a long way.

Sir,

The greatest advice I ever received was the following, “if you don't work hard now, you WILL work hard for the rest of your life”. My advice is simple, wake up earlier, go to bed latter, live on less, cut bad habits and bad connections and finally forget applications and resumes. Start shaking hands and helping others. If need be, grab a lawn mower and a broom and walk house to house in your neighborhood telling them your happy to help with anything they need help with.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom guys. Was just having an extremely bad day yesterday. Decided I may go volunteer at a local charity thrift shop. Even if nothing happens, I can at least help out some people in need.

Hang in there. Most of us have made mistakes that come back to haunt us.
Thank God for your Grandmother. At least you have someone helping you get back on your feet.
I take my frustrations and depression out on anything with a power cord (scrapping it !)

The others all had good advice. Now I give you more words of inspiration..( You all knew I would, don't lie )

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. - Aristotle Onassis

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. - Robert Louis Stevenson

I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.' - Muhammad Ali

Oh I got more, but that'll do for now.

Good luck an hope things turn around soon for you.

Sirscrapalot - Scrappy dappy doooO!