Can anyone offer tales to inspire or comfort?

[steve208]

Hey there all well things not been great of late, although passing my driving test means i am able to be more mobile in looking for work.

I have a few things that are a problem at the mo and would like some tales from AB'ers about if they have been in a similar situation.

(1) I am currently stuck in a job working in a warehouse at a shop. I want to get an office job but dont seem to have the experience and need to build my confidence by maybe doing some more voluntary work. I have interned for an MP and done some office admin for a local charity. I want to work in local government or for a charity. I am thinking of going to the local careers service at the college in town, but im just i dunno not v good at getting myself going should have gone today but didnt.

(2) I dont have any friends to speak of...there are some from uni that i see occasionally but im stuck at home (parents house) and even they think i dont get out enough. Id like to join some local clubs etc but its hard with the hours i work but also very low confidence.

(3) i owe a fair bit on overdraft and credit card so that is only going down slowly with low paid job.

I have a regular counselling session starting in two weeks so that should help but i think i need to find some way to get myself moving with life as it is very dull atm.

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to give.

[nessi]

Hi well done for getting councelling - thats the first step so hopefully it will all be uphill from here. Cant really help with your career but kickboxing or some other physical activity is great for confidence you'll get to chat with other people but there wont be any of those awkward silences + exercise gives you a natural boost so you'll be in a better mood for the rest of the day, go on you know you want to its great fun and only takes up an hour or two a week

[steve208]

hey thank you. Im not sure about kick boxing as im not into boxing etc but salsa daning has been suggested to me before so i could try that. I will try to look up more things though now that i can drive it is easier to get places! Im trying to go swimming that helps make me feel better.

[Scarlett]

You could go to your local connexions and sign up for a computer course. Not only will this help give you skills for office work, but you will meet new people too. You could have a look at your local adult education centre too!xx

[steve208]

hi....connextions is who i am getting counselling with but dont think they are able to help with careers advice etc as they are for 13 - 19 year olds for those services but up to 25 for counselling well i think so anyway. When i was there a few weeks ago they were trying to think of another agencey i could go to. I think it is called next steps and the local careers centre at the college is part of this agency/programme.

[steve208]

Hey ward-minter (sorry dont know how to do that thing where user name appears in bold!)

I have no confidence ...well ive never been good with confidence and am hoping that the counselling or something else such as getting going with life will help. I achieved a great deal at uni and i saw that i could be great in terms of being confient but feel bad now because i dont have the confidence i know i could have if that makes sense?!

Fair point i should try harder but im just stuck and low at the mo and finding it hard to find a way through. Sure I have a great deal of respect for those who fought in the war, my grandad was in the merchant navy and survived being torpedoed many times. He went on to captain many fine ships, which did inspire me to want to join the navy. However after a week at the officer college and sailing on some ships i found out i am not made of tough enough stuff emotionally. Also i did not want to be told what to do all the time as even if i am an officer then im still being told what to do.

In addition university has taught me that there are things worth fighting for and id like to be part of working for a charity to do some good in a world which is often full of sadness.

Well hope will be able to get at least a bit of advice from careers people and going to try a number of things in terms of jobs.

[steve208]

ward-minter:-

as a quick aside....i do love the sea and did almost go into a careers office to see if i am too old to give the navy a go....but i didnt go....i dunno would be good but id feel like i have missed out on doing my bit for charity etc. Maybe i could do it just for a few years ?

[Alibobs]

Look at the VSO.org website - with no ties there is nothing to stop you from doing voluntary work overseas.

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steve208]

thanks wardy

may i ask if there is a reason for your user name??!

well have been on the RN site since thinking about it when you said it first so read most of it....i really dont think i could do it but i may chat about this with someone at the RN careers centre near to me.

[~posy-jo~]

my husband was like u. he was very underconfident and extremely shy. he joined the navy 6 years ago it was the making of him he is a completely different person now. u say u want to work for the government well being in the navy is working for the government. find out where your local forces career office is and pop in and have a chat, u never no it might b the best thing u ever did. hope everything goes well. let us no how u get on xXx

[steve208]

thanks for the insight ward-minter. i had always wondered why etc. my user name is just part of my email addy...not v exciting i know but hey.

Hum yes tho id like to try the aquaint course id feel bad as ive prob cost the RN quite a lot already...and not signed up.

- Went on HMS Invincible for two days portsmouth to london.

- And went for a summer camp in august 2000 at BRNC, I just was not outgoing enough and ended up crying a lot as i missed my girlfriend at the time...though dont have a girlfriend now and not wanting one at mo so not attached in the same way. I suppose im more open to meeting people etc after 3 years at uni i might approach things differently.

[ermintrude35]

...here is a tale of comfort....


If You Are Unhappy


Once upon a time there was a nonconforming sparrow who decided not to fly south for the winter. However, soon the weather turned so cold that he reluctantly started to fly south. In a short time ice began to form on his wings and he fell to earth in a barnyard, almost frozen. A cow passed by and crapped on the little sparrow. The sparrow thought it was the end. But the manure warmed him and defrosted his wings. Warm and happy, able to breathe, he started to sing. Just then a large cat came by and, hearing the chirping, investigated the sounds. The cat cleared away the manure, found the chirping bird, and promptly ate him.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY

1) Everyone who sh!ts on you is not necessarily your enemy.

2) Everyone who gets you out of the sh!t is not necessarily your friend.

3) And if you're warm and happy in a pile of sh!t, keep your mouth shut.

[jascinta]

Hi Steve I think your main problem is that you feel trapped.You must think about each of your situations seperately and then work out what the best way to deal with them is.Once you can see a solution evrything seems so much happier and easier.Try and do more things like joining a club or going to the pub.Yoy might meet more friends and having friends can make you feel so much better and always remember that dreams can come true.