Hi just thought I'd post what's on my mind. I would so much love to go to work. Feel allot guilty for saying so as I have a job at home. We have a construction company employing 7 and I run the office here. I can do my work when I can and sort of keep our home life together too by keeping up the ranch. It's what many in our situation would love to have. But I sure miss being out there in the real world sometimes. I used to own and operate my own floral shop, 3 employees full time, and just loved it, a hard job if you do it right mind you but never a dull moment not to mention the flowers. I had a 75sqft fridge full of every kind and when you went inside your cares would simply melt away. But I know there is just no way I could pull it off now. I wouldn't be able to give my customers everything they deserved nor would I be able to work for somebody who I knew counted on me because I can't count on me. Some days I am ready to get up get dressed and go get the job of my dreams and then reality hits and I can barely function at home in my baggies and no make-up, no hair. Sure gets monotoneous. Sure am glad you folks are here. How do you folks handle working out? I just don't know how you could. Thanks Sandra
Hi Sandra,
Whew, it seems that you've done a lot in your life already, and still are doing a lot! My, my, my, how do you keep it all straight?
I see that you really loved being a florist, can you maybe get a part-time job at a floral shop? Something with only a few hours a day/week maybe?
I still work the 9-5 routine with lots of overtime; some days, it takes everything I have to get up and go do what I have to do. Other days, it's not so bad and I can function fairly well. There are some weekends where I barely get off of the couch, I'm just so exhausted from the work week. And with waking up two or more times a night, well, I surprised I can even find the office some days.
Take care and I hope that you feel better soon -
Patze
Good Morning Sandra,
Sounds like a case of "the grass is greener on the other side of the road". ;D I know there are some on here that would love to be where you are, and work from home. However, on the other hand, I can imagine the satisfaction and enjoyment you must have had as a floral designer. When you spoke of walking into the cooler and all the fragances of the flowers, oh my. I love to smell the flowers, even at WalMart when you open the cooler they have flowers in.
Even at our grocery store Giant, they have a section with all cut flowers and dish gardens. It's next to heaven to walk through there.
I know how you feel about wanting to get out with the human race though. When I retired and started my alteration and repair sewing business at home, I so missed going out each day and just being able to talk to people.
I hope you find a happy medium and can enjoy being out among people if only for a couple days a week.
Hugs, Pooh
Hi Sandra :)
I totally understand your feeling of wanting to work 'out'. I used to be a full time mother but always did bits and pieces on the side - like face-painting - or doing puppet shows. Not steady work but a bit of extra cash here or there - and it was fun.
When my youngest went to secondary/high school, I decided i needed to work more and did some further training. I then applied for sessional work at youth centres and community centres. At one stage I had about 4 different part time jobs at different centres, which pretty well gave me full time hours.
It got to the stage I wasn't coping very well so I cut back to two jobs and last year - I cut back to one. So I work 22 and a half hours a week at one project. Often, I'm really tired by the weekend. last week I had 9 hours of training on top of the 22 and a half hours and on Saturday I didn't get out of bed till 3.30 p.m. and felt yukky. Felt a bit better Sunday.
I have quite a challenging job as I work with kids who have been excluded from school because of behaviour. I really like it though. Sometimes I could strangle them but other days are good. 5 hours a day is enough though.
During the summer holidays I slept more than usual, I didn't go out a lot, I got quite bored and I felt quite 'down'. Going to work energises me. I have to get up.
I hope I can keep working till I'm retirement age. No guarantees because we never know what's round the corner. Also - my job just isn't that safe.
If I didn't work I'd have to find something else to do daytime or I'll turn into a cabbage. I have a really low boredom threshold.
Take care - Scottie :)
Sandra,
i do understand missing the "real world", I too, Own a construction based business. I do agree with Pooh, Its nice to work from home the benfits out weigh the headaches! But on the otherhand sounds like your passion is flowers. Maybe you could "sub" work to a floral store? Or maybe a home based floral business for functions (weddings, ect)?
Good Luck either way!
I sure know what you mean. I quit my job after the end of the 2006 season---couldn't deal with it another year. I worked outside in a National Monument---a beautiful place and a joy to be there. But it was incredibly stressful, especially supervising a crew of sometimes stubborn, unruly, hungover guys. We worked 10 hour days in hot, dry weather---physically tasking---and mentally, too. I just barely held it together that last season. I had to direct a masonry restoration project. But the whole thing really gave me a sense of personal worth and accomplishment. Then, after I quit, the whole of 2007 was spent figuring out what was "wrong" with me.
Now I do all the office, bookkeeping, web-site, advertising, graphic design, and marketing for our small family company. The bookkeeping's easy, but I'm not trained for the other things. It takes all my time, and I mostly feel like I'm not very good at it. We can't afford to hire somebody for that right now. So I'm at home, in the home office, taking care of all this, plus ALL the household duties, cooking, cleaning, errands, banking, etc. I don't have any co-workers; I'm alone most of the time. I "don't get no respect" or many kudos for all this---it's just work that has to be done. I don't feel I have personal pride or recognition for my field of expertize like I used to have.
I've thought about working "outside" but frankly, I don't have the time or energy to do both. Our company has recently gone through changes, and now I'm stuck in this supportive position, when I used to be "directing" things.
Calli
I had to stop working at my job as a secretary in the office of a college president about 3 years ago. After 5 years struggling with my eyes, I had a medically necessary operation which turned out badly and my vision made it impossible for me to work. I filed for disability and got it and am still on it. It will soon just turn into social security as I age through the system. Within a year after quitting work, I had Sjogrens dx, breast cancer dx, skin cancer and I could barely get off the couch let alone think about what I wanted to do.
More recently, as I've been getting some strength back from radiation last year, I've begun missing being out among people. I am still not visually able to work, but I did want to do something. I'm a one-afternoon a week volunteer at an aviation museum. I'm a greeter (just like Walmart-lol). I don't have to "see" well to do my job and it's just about stress free. The museum has low lighting which is frindly to my eyes. It is still sometimes a struggle to make the Friday afternoon session, but I'm really enjoying it and hope to be able to keep it up. It gives me a feeling that I'm "learning a little" and interacting with others. Lucy
I just wanted to say I totally understand your need to get out of the house.. Last year I was working from the house getting a second business up and going so I could retire from my day job.. but along the way I found being home was very hard.. and that a large part of me was someone that needs to be around others and beingsocail... I am trying to find a good meduim.. and still make a living...
I love flowers and can see how you would miss that... could you find a way to work outside the house alittle bit.. to fill that missing piece .... just a thought
I too am going through the work thing. I am a full time registered nurse but am really struggling with it at the moment. i have just dropped back to four days a week until i can find a nursing job that is not so physically taxing. my body just can handle the shift work anymore. i need a nine to five job.
its a delicate balancing act
pud