I've been struggling so much lately. Mentally, physically (messed up ankle and foot) and financially. Nightmare neighbor's new girlfriend banging on the wall when my kid makes the slightest noise.. she's autistic and stims vocally often. I'm feeling uncomfortable in my own home all while just trying to make it through every month being a single mom, getting my daughter to therapy, going to food banks etc. and I've just hit my limit. Today the wheel on my child's stroller blew. The entire thing. Walking is our main way of getting around as I don't drive and get panic attacks on transit. I had to hobble on my bad ankle, while lifting the one side of the stroller nearly ten blocks to the gas station as at first I thought it only needed air. Once we got there and filled it with air, it immediately deflated. I felt so defeated. A man helped me figure out the issue which was the valve so I couldn't even just patch the wheel. I was kind of thinking out loud and said oh great, I can't afford that right now. He said sorry, can't help you there unfortunately. I was immediately embarrassed and apologized saying I wasn't hinting for him to give me money. I bought tape from the store to try and cover the valve after pumping more air in to try and at least get us home. As I looked up from the air pump he walked up to me and handed me $15.00 saying you need this more than I do. I immediately burst into tears and thanked him. I probably looked crazy. I was so overwhelmed not just over the money but mostly because of this man's kindness. I really, really needed that. I've been having such bad luck and crappy things in life lately that this man's one act of kindness alone made me sob. My faith in humanity was restored today. Another couple stopped to ask if we needed help as well. There are good people in the world. He will probably never know how deeply that touched me today. If you happen to ever read this, Thank you.. from the bottom of my heart. You completely made my day. I will pay it forward to someone else down on their luck someday.

I have a really hard time trusting people now. I used to be so open and trusting that people were intrinsically good with good intentions, but that belief was smashed a few too many times. I recently tried hard to trust a person who had badly let me down in the past because of some things they said that made me think maybe they’d changed and there was hope. But I wasn’t ready to completely trust again because I was waiting for them to prove that they were being honest before I let my guard down completely. I’m so glad that I listened to my gut instinct this time before I got too comfortable with it, because they showed that they couldn’t be trusted just as I was afraid they would. I’m sad about this potential relationship being lost, but I’m equally sad about the complete loss of my ability to trust anyone. I don’t think I’ll ever get it back and that feels very lonely.

I have always been kind of a drifter through life, no clear goals or ambitions, a recent wake up call happened when I learned the job I had for 15 years may be ending soon and I have been sending out resumes. I am in my 50s so the prospect of looking for new work is bad enough but I have come to the realization that I have no "hard" skills. I don't speak another language, don't know how to touch type, can't computer code, have the barest understanding of MS Office and Excel, only vaguely know a few computer programs all of them art related. Back when I was in my 30s friends, who's career paths weren't working out went back to school and learned different skill sets. Since it took until my 40s to pay off my student loans, the idea of going into debt again filled me with dread. On top of that, I'm terrible at networking and I don't play well with others. So yeah, I'm screwed. I'm a few credits away from a BFA, I'm thinking dipping into my savings and going back to school so I can say I accomplished something. however minor. Heed these words people in your 30s and 40s, it's not too late to change paths if things aren't working out for you, don't paint yourself into a corner like I did.

I started a new job. It has been gruelling to say the least: endless tasks, interruptions, competing demands, etc. A coworker, who I never talk to beyond “Good morning”, cornered me at lunch and said “I think you’re looking for a new job. I think you’re gonna quit.” It came out of left field and I responded, “Why are you so interested in my life?” I am wondering if they will try to get me fired or something. I honestly don’t understand office workers, if they are so completely bored as to conjur up imaginary things that their colleagues might do.

But at the time I was a married guy and even though my former wife was a secret psychotic sex addict and coke head, I would never cheat on anyone I'm in a relationship with. I have ethics and a heart and a soul and I am respectful. I liked you as a person but honestly, even if I was single I gravitate towards a totally different vibe. I like tiny fuckmonkies. My word. Good word.

Your cold sores are so sexy......sweet Jesus.

I never thought I would meet the the man of my dreams. Caring, thoughtful, so wonderful and knows how to treat a lady if you know what I mean ! But I have and I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet. Don't give up ladies your true love is out there too.

Any time there is a government push for me to read particular "news" articles that are basically a moral agenda pushed by the government while it trashes religion and culture, I just change the channel. It's that simple.

I once dated a woman who was Wiccan. She liked me, but I was afraid of her. I told her that I did not want to see her anymore, and she became enraged. I have no problem with what she wants to believe. That is her right, of course. But she scared me.

Every summer, my sister flips out over the same thing, and it drives me bonkers. We will picnic, and despite dozens of corrections, she will freak out over the "bees" swarming around her. They are WASPS. We have corrected her numerous times "Hey, it's a wasp, not a bee", and it never sinks in. These are two very different organisms, and they deserve recognition for what they are. Every year, she uses the same wrong term, and it just shows how unwilling she is to learn new things from people. If I make a mistake with a word or thing, I want to be corrected with the right word or category; I want to learn. But my sister just won't learn new things and is just on basic repeat for infinity. I tried to help her save money by doing something another way; I offered to pay for half her lawyer fees over a legal matter. It's just Nope Nope Nope. Will never try a new way, never wants to even THINK about a new way. No adapting. This is why I never want to see her. I've watched this syndicated episode dozens of times already, and I already know the ending.