Dear Aunt B,Subject: Please tell me.......
the reason to go on in life. I'm a 49 yr old woman, who lives w/ my 88 yr old father. I lost my mother 4 yrs ago to cancer. Thought I found my soul mate (online), but soon learned he just wanted to use me. I work with Down's Syndrome ladies Have been with them for 16 yrs. My title is dietary/caregiver. I'm best known as the person who brings food into the house (both at work and at home). When one of my co-workers asked a resident what she would remember me most for (if I passed on).....answer.....groceries.
As far as home life, I'm a caregiver too. My father, well....it's hard to explain......He has always been there for me. He has helped me out with some huge scrapes that I got myself into. I'll be indebted to him for the rest of my life, and I think he knows this. It's a strange relationship, not a close father and daughter one. It's mostly....I'm just here to just listen and agree.
I have animals and love them dearly. I've always wanted to work with animals and have tried through out my life. However my brains only functioned for a very short while and didn't allow me to continue. I remember my mother telling me it's my fault that I didn't get ahead. But, I think it was something else going on, something medical. I'm a complete and total failure !!!
I do miss my mom, we were like sisters. She died a brutal death from Ovarian cancer. I'll never forget the torture she went through. Nor will I ever forgive myself for being a big disappointment to her.
I'm so sick and tired of life, All that goes through my mind is what I'll be remember as. The grocery ladies, or the lady who knows where every caned item is located in the groc. store. The daughter who must always put food in front of my father in order to satisfy him. The daughter that should have spent more time in the kitchen rather then with my animals and learning about nature. Telling me my cooking skills will get better through time. Never will I be remembered as the person who dedicated her whole life to animal causes or a wonderful veterinarian who cared for all creatures. Oh, maybe as a past time, but that's all.....the rest of the time is strictly to serve people and to satisfy their ungrateful needs.
Not only will I be remembered as the food lady, I'll be remembered as the person who got involved with someone on the Internet and made a fool out of herself. Like I said, I Thought I found someone who loved me and loved animals. This person came into my life the same time my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I thought he was a gift from god to help me deal with this. He himself had suffered a stroke. This gift from god used me to support him. I should have known this all along. He also abused my little dog, so we left in a hurry and came back home to my dad.
Please......don't think I'm ungrateful....that I don't appreciate having a job or my father. I'm just tired of my life....I'm thinking that I have 40 or so more years to go, for what reason? I'll be alone this next half, and my life will be the same, bitter, untrusting, miserable and full of regrets. What kind of existence is that? Oh God, please tell me why I should go on.........Elly
Dear Elly,I think at this stage in your life you've got a clear cut case of the "Wish Id's." {A Babzism} And it seems to me that it's a rather serious case at that. But it is somewhat curable.
I recognize it, your situation, quite clearly as I've gone through it myself. And if the truth were known, I still do, more often than not. Yes, at 50, you have to know that I have asked myself the same tired questions that you are. In fact, I didn't like my own answers, personally.
I do believe, at any age, people go through this or rather ask themselves the same questions. It just may be what spurs us on to bigger and better things. Now, you can not change the past, EVER but you sure as hell can change the future. And in the interim, you look back in retrospect, you hopefully learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Live, Learn & Laugh Like Hell about it all...hopefully.
No, this is not going to be my version of the sidelines cheerleader squad (I was a Majorette anyway, not a cheerleader). But I would like to remind you to re-evaluate your goals, re-establish those goals starting out a bit more reasonably.
I'd prefer to see you stop kicking yourself in the ass for what you did not do, who you did not become, what you were not able to accomplish. It serves no one, least of all yourself.
This case of the "Wish Id's," is similar to anger, an anger based upon things for which you have no control over; your past. While I do value your exploration in this process you are going through, it serves no one, least of all you. It is destructive and allowed to continue unbridled, unchecked well G-Friend, you are on a course to implosion.
My suggestion is to understand first that life is all a matter of perception. In example, not one of my
All grown, big and hairy men(and good looking to their Mama), they generally do not have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of but what little they do have they have worked for, not stolen from to get or taken anything or anyone for granted.
And while we love our children, quite often we do not like them, now do we? At least this is a truism for those of us who are willing to admit it. So, can you appreciate the thought that I not only love my sons but like them and enjoy their company?
You may be asking yourself, at this juncture, "Well Aunt B, c'mon, really what in the Sam Hell does this have to do with me?" I think what I'm trying to convey to you is, for real, what is your definition of success?
As I mentioned before, you truly need to look at your values and belief systems and tweak the shit outa them. Wake up tomorrow morning with a fresh cup of coffee and a fresh outlook. Then, you march your ass into the bathroom, look yourself square in the eye and ask yourself, this pertinent question;
Am I a good person? (And every day, from that moment on, you look yourself in the eye, making absolutely sure you are looking into your own soul and not past it and ask that question).
"When it's all said and done, I do personally believe that you will be remembered for the good you do even if it's one person at a time."
Just as a suggestion you could possibly start a blog (hey, it's free)as an outlet, working towards a common goal. I have personal friends who do a lot of animal rescue, a much needed service and mentality. You could begin making a difference even if it's just in your own backyard, you see?
The thing is, the important thought process here is for you to do what you can to make a difference, one person at a time. And to prove my point; I have been doing this "Ask Aunt B(WP)" gig since 2006. Since it's inception, Xmichra and I have answered upwards of 400 letters/questions from every walk of life. Now, I'd like to think we've made a dent in and contributed to helping others. Again, one person at a time.
There is no greatness in what we do. That is proven by the fact that more often than not we don't even get a reply from the person that's sent us a question. And even though we've poured our hearts out at times, we may not get so much as a thank you, not even a "kiss my ass."
However, there have been times, although they are few and far between where we get a letter from a reader telling us that we've most certainly helped them, they've gained a perspective that they were not able to see and/or that we made a difference in their life. And that right there, Ma'am, is the only reason I bother to do this. Yes, that tad bit of an attitude of gratitude that we might get, spurs us on.
Find that special something that you can do, one person at a time, maybe even, "One Kitty Cat or Doggie" at a time!
Keeping It Real,
Aunt B
Dear Elly,
You sound like you are worn out and need a break! Wearing yourself emotionally thin can cause a lot of depression and feelings of unfulfilment... but so can surrounding yourself with people who are unappreciative.
I understand that you feel bound to take care of your father. And I understand that you need to stay employed. But those two things shouldn’t be your whole life.... you have passions! And everyone needs a bit of personal down time, which I don’t think you are taking for yourself.
Thinking about how other people see you isn’t the goal. It’s how you see yourself. And you are doing yourself a great dsi-service by not recognising that you have made some very huge sacrifices in your own life to help others. People are just another form of animal Elly, and you are looking after them feeding them helping them in a time of need. Don’t sell yourself short, you are doing something that a lot of others wouldn’t do... you are giving your time and helping your father. You are a good person, and you deserve some acknowledgment for that.
As for the internet dating, we all make mistakes. You were in a vulnerable position and you were taken advantage of by an asshat. Internet or not, there are plenty of asshats out there and your situation, unfortunately, is a common one. These guys (and gals) can’t do anything for themselves and look for a “free ride”. They are lazy, manipulative liars who con their way into your life and savings account. And you saw through that in the end, but you can’t possibly think that you would see that right from the start. These people know what they are doing, and lie to get what they want. You are a genuinely good person and wouldn’t lie like that, so naturally you wouldn’t think someone would lie like that either. It is not naive, it is human. Don’t beat yourself up for this Elly, it is totally not your fault.
You said that you were close to your mother, and that can be really tough when a mother dies. I would suggest that you try finding a grieving support group to try and help you through this. There are several that deal with female cancers, so that would be the first place to try. But you really do need to talk about this, and begin to let go. You are beating yourself up for not measuring up to a standard, and that is unfair to you. You need to find some support and start to feel better, you really need to feel better Elly. It is essential.
Your last statement, why should you go on? Because Elly, you are so far from being done!! You have a whole life left to live, and you can change it to be whatever you want it to be! You are doing something unimaginably kind to support your father... do the same for yourself! Let your passions out, offer assistance in an animal shelter, take a night class for veterinary assistant, go to that support group and vent! You need release and to have something that is yours, and you are worth the effort, don’t you think?
If you need help finding a support group please let us know, and we will help find one in your area. The most important message I want you to finish reading from me is:
YOU ARE WORTH THE SAME EFFORT YOU SELFLESSLY GIVE TO OTHERS!!!
I hope you read that, and give yourself the shot at a life not realised. You have so much to do still, and so much to enjoy.
~Xmichra
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