*Sigh*...Here we go...again...

[Valascus]

As if this year could not get any worse for me. I am so ready for 2006 to go away. Got laid off from job I worked at for 5 years in February 2006. I was a research assistant at a Core ECG Lab, reading ECGs and coding my findings. Didn't find new job until late April in the Carpentry Union. I never really ever felt comfortable at the new job, nor did the people I worked with ever really try to help me feel like I "belonged" there. I always felt like I was a burden or was in the way, but it helped keep money in the bank, food on the table, the bills paid, and we could even afford to have some nicer things. Then on May 26th, 2006 I got hurt in an accident that could have been avoided had someone taken the time to do their job and properly cover a hole in the floor. Instead they just laid some wood over it and I had to suffer a broken arm, compression fracture in my spine, a broken pelvis, and couldn't work again until late September. Now...I have been laid off again. All that suffering and hard work I went through healing and going through 2 months of physical therapy just so I could get back out there and work again...flushed down the toilet.

I don't really know how to describe how I feel. Frustration, anger, anxiety, uncertainty, sadness...heck pretty much every bad feeling one can feel all rolled up into one. I just don't understand it...I am a good worker. I get to work on time every day. I am prepared and want to be there. I take time to make sure the job is done right and not half way. I like learning as many facets of a job that I can, so I can become a better asset to whoever I am working for. But none of that seems to matter. When it comes time for someone to be on the chopping block it always seems like it's me. I am just so tired of the affect all this has had on my family and myself. I just wish that things could go back to "normal" somehow. I just wish I could find a decent steady job so we wouldn't have to worry about money, health insurance, spending time together as a family...all that stuff which has been affected.

Sorry 'bout the rant...just needed to vent a little.

[Dan:]

did you get worker's comp for your accident?

[RiskKid.]

Man you have had it tough. I hope you find something really good in the near future....thoughts and pryers are with you.

[Tom Bass]

Valascus,

It'll be all right. Trust me. Someday, and I know that your saying "Someday, who the "blank" is the As---le? Someday, things will be fine. It's tough now but with your attitude and drive you'll find a way to move forward. Don't focus on what was...even though you'd like to focus a two-by-four on someone special where you used to work...Focus on now and what you can do for now. Take steps to move forward.

I used to be a Research and Development Technician at Hughes Aircraft in the early '80's. Hughes was the place to work in California. It was "the ticket"...Then one day it wasn't. I left. Worked 1 1/2 years doing minimum wage jobs. Lost everything...Or so I thought. I still had my loving wife and my daughter. We didn't starve. We didn't thrive either. But, we had each other. That is the key. Never lose focus of that.

Eventually I got a job in mass transit working on trains. Somewhere I never thought I would be. But, I got a job in L.A. working on trains. Life hasn't been easy overthe years but I now live in Concord, NC. I work on the rail system here in Charlotte. My wife and I have been married over 26 years. My daughter now lives with her husband in California and I have a 1 year old Grandson. Life is Good...and I have two really cool lakes to fish whenever I want! Sorry, got excited there for a moment.

Pard,

I feel for ya, but the world isn't over. Your profile says that you are 24. My "Big Downfall" happened when I was 26. I figure that you have two years up on me to be makin' this same speech to someone like you a ways down the road.

Life isn't over Man, it's just getting interesting.  Move forward and Rock On!

[senile1]

Valascus,

Listen and heed what Tom Bass is saying.  I don't want to diminish what you are going through because I know it has been rough.  But you are only 24.  You have lots of time to turn this around.  Dude, when I got out of high school I had an academic scholarship to go to college.  I got involved in drugs, drinking, and playing in a band.  Through a combination of my own bad choices and some bad luck I found myself in a similar situation at about your age.  While my grades had been good at college I quit because I wanted to concentrate on my music.  When you quit, you lose your scholarship.  You can't get it back when you return.  Around this time I ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time and was assaulted by 8 guys.  My hospital bill was astronomical (at least to me, it was at the time.)  Soon, thereafter, I was married and had a child and we were barely getting by.  Anyway, to make a long story short, I applied for financial aid, worked, and went to college, graduated, and was able to get a job eventually in which I could pull myself out of the hole.  Now at 45, almost 46, my wife and I have quite a bit saved up for retirement and if the economy doesn't collapse we both plan to retire in our 50s.  At 24, I never would have believed it.  It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are young, because it's a long tunnel.  

If you believe you can get out of this you will because a strong belief will cause you to take actions that will eventually turn this thing around.  Make a plan, and stick to it.  You will have setbacks, but, one day, eventually, you'll look back and you won't believe how far you've come.  

[Cigarlover 1]

These guys have given some great advice. I say take it and put it to good use. I know where you're coming from. I'm 30, in the past 4 yrs I've been laid off 3 times and lived in 3 different states. I've gone from being single to being married and gone from renting to owning a nice home with a bit land to enjoy. Don't get me wrong my life isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. Crap is still going to happen no matter how smooth life goes. But like Tom said the world isn't over. My philosopy is to not dwell on the past but learn from it and be confident and have a positive attitude towards the future. That's helped me deal with blows tremendously. No matter what we choose to do life will still move on around us. We just have to find ways to keep with it and make our time here good time.

[Marty]

Life does have a way of throwing curve balls our way. Hang in there.

I know it's easy for me to say, but don't get too down on yourself and channel all that anger and frustration into the energy needed to find that next job and being the best that you can be.

Best of luck.

[paparock]

Valascus, you have my prayers for God's intervention into your situation and to turn things around for your family. Many of us have gone through the "do I have a target on my back" times in life but it will pass and may you find a better job that pays more than you can even dream of. Hang in there!

[Valascus]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words, thoughts, prayers, great advice and direction, and for sharing your experiences. I am trying my best to keep a level head about the whole situation, and have thrown myself at finding a new (hopefully better) job ASAP. I just hope this doesn't turn into another prolonged search like last time. :-/

[Troutfisher]

Valascus, you have my prayers for God's intervention into your situation and to turn things around for your family. Many of us have gone through the "do I have a target on my back" times in life but it will pass and may you find a better job that pays more than you can even dream of. Hang in there!

Amen!

[bassnleo]

I believe in the old saying "everything happens for a reason".

Keep your head up, things will turn for you.

I too went through a similar time in my life, I kept grinding and finally things turned around.

It will happen for you too......

[tbird]

Valascus,

Listen and heed what Tom Bass is saying.  I don't want to diminish what you are going through because I know it has been rough.  But you are only 24.  You have lots of time to turn this around.  Dude, when I got out of high school I had an academic scholarship to go to college.  I got involved in drugs, drinking, and playing in a band.  Through a combination of my own bad choices and some bad luck I found myself in a similar situation at about your age.  While my grades had been good at college I quit because I wanted to concentrate on my music.  When you quit, you lose your scholarship.  You can't get it back when you return.  Around this time I ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time and was assaulted by 8 guys.  My hospital bill was astronomical (at least to me, it was at the time.)  Soon, thereafter, I was married and had a child and we were barely getting by.  Anyway, to make a long story short, I applied for financial aid, worked, and went to college, graduated, and was able to get a job eventually in which I could pull myself out of the hole.  Now at 45, almost 46, my wife and I have quite a bit saved up for retirement and if the economy doesn't collapse we both plan to retire in our 50s.  At 24, I never would have believed it.  It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are young, because it's a long tunnel.  

If you believe you can get out of this you will because a strong belief will cause you to take actions that will eventually turn this thing around.  Make a plan, and stick to it.  You will have setbacks, but, one day, eventually, you'll look back and you won't believe how far you've come.  

Hang tough , this is good advice heed it. You are young and unlike some of us older guys have not gone through the real hard times yet. This will only strengthen your resolve and you will grow wiser by this experience.

[Chug Bug]

You sound like you have a very good work ethic.  This will eventually be recognized and you will end up as an invaluable asset if not a powerful leader to a company some day soon. (trust me).  Whenever things get really bad for a time, they seem to come back better than they ever were.  You'll see, just hang in there.

[cart7t]

Anytime you're the low man on the totem pole you're vulnerable to being the first out the door when times get lean at a workplace.  Another thing I can tell you having friends in the construction industry over the years, it's not a particularly steady job.  Depending on what you do in that profession, bricklayer, carpenter, drywall, electrician, etc.  depends on how steady you work especially over the winter season.  I also know that working in the construction field is like swimming in shark infested waters.  Kill or be killed basically.  They're pushing workers to work harder and faster in order to push the homes up so the ROI is greater.  If you can't handle the muster you'll get walked on.

Fortunately you're still young.  I started my profession out of tech school at age 18.  Got bounced around, got out of the field, got a "good" job at the old McDonnel Douglas aircraft factory, then got laid off and thought the same way you did.  In the past 15 years I've had 3 shops I worked in either go out of business or pull the rug out from under me pay and benefits wise.  There's just no such thing as a long term, life long job anymore (at least not the definition I was brought up to believe).

Hang in there. Some day, probably sooner rather than later you'll look back on these days and realize it was nothing more than a little bump in the road. If nothing else these are character building days and will enrich and enlighten you during your journey on this thing called life.  

[Catt]

Hung in there dude it'll get better

2002 Reduction In Force after 9 ½ years with Northrup/Grumman & six months before retirement

2003 back into construction self employed

December 2004 contractor I was subcontracting from took the money & ran

September 2005 hurricane Rita

December 20th 2005 on my birthday hurt my back on a construction site

2006 has been a string of small jobs with layoffs in between, lost my boat (that hurt).

But I'm still smiling cause I know God will provide!

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

[BD]

Best of luck and things will hopefully look up for you shortly.

[Gatorbassman]

I hard time I always try to remember that my stuff is just that.......... stuff. It can be sold. The cable can be cut off. Cell phones and internet can be cancled. If I loose everything I still will have my family with me.

[K_Mac]

Valuscus

I understand the frustration of health issues, loss of jobs, and not enough cash to make ends meet. I have lost jobs due to downsizing a couple of times in my working career. I am currently unemployed because of health problems. It is frustrating to have to dip into retirement funds to make ends meet when you're as old as I am (50).

Now you are probably asking, what is your point K_Mac? :-? Good Question. Catt mentioned Philippians 4:11. Philippians 4 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. In verse 12 Paul says, I have learned what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. He then goes on to say in verse13, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. I can tell you after 30+ years of marriage and being in the work force, through tragedy and triumph, that this promise has been true in my life. I have learned that you really find out what you believe and what you're made of when times are tough. That is good thing. One more verse and I'll end my sermon. : Romans 8:28 is my life verse. It says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. I will keep you in my prayers.

Kirby

[Guest avid]

I wish I had some secret I could share with you that would help get you through this time.

I really don't.  I only know that I'm still here and still putting one foot in front of the other.  I don't always know where I'm going, but getting there seems to be what it is all about.

Best of luck to you.

avid