>I guess its at times like this I wish I had religion, so I could have a 'Purpose Driven Life'. The problem is that I can't become religious simply out of convenience for myself. I would have to believe it, and I don't. I can't.

I've been there. All I can say to that is to ask yourself why you feel a need for meaning in your life in the first place. No other living thing cares about its meaning, but somehow humans do.

*preach mode on*

For me, the only answer I could come up with to fill that need was God. Have you really investigated any religion for yourself or just know about it from what you've been told or from supposed "religious folks" that you've observed? No, you can't believe in God out of convenience, but there's no harm in searching and reading about God and different religions for yourself when you are searching for purpose in your life. For me, investigating God and religion for myself was the only way out of the feelings you describe.

*preach mode off*

Best of luck no matter what path you choose to follow.

you should feel good just to be alive. Sure, working for a living sucks. Everybody would rather not work, just be outside in the sunshine, or boating, or vacationing all the time. Unfortunately, if and when you become independently wealthy, you have to work.

If you find something you enjoy and get paid for it, it wont feel like "work". maybe it's time for a career change. other than that, stop bittching. there are starving children in the world with no shoes on their feet.

I have been hosting my friend's cat for a few months now. The cat has taught me the meaning of life: converting food to pee/poo. He seems perfectly content with it. Especially when he gets to chase his toy around for a few minutes.

In your situation, you can't really start a new career. So learn from the boss and plot to do it better than him some day.

Or maybe you can become a math/science teacher. That might give you a purpose.

All day long I see people unhappy with their jobs, I wish I knew what to say to them and to you. I had the zen thing going when I could have fallen into the trap you're in. Hang on, better days are ahead. Hopefully someday you'll be laughing at the funk you now find yourself.
Jim

That, in a nutshell, is why to hang on. When I was 42, there was no way in hell I could have predicted the life I am enjoying today.
So, hang in there...that's really it. :)

You trained and studied to be an engineer, go back to that and find a starting position and commit to it. Get out of South Beach and move to a real world situation. I don't think you gave engineering enough time, just my opinion.

Real estate is up there with used car sales and vinyl siding, they are not prefessions, they are money mills but you have to have a line of BS.

Good luck on you search for more happiness.

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...

that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.

I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late

The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.

The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.

The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger, watch it grin

A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please.

Todd, I expected better of you.

If you remember the context of the song, the Painless Pole takes the black capsule, and wakes up better than new the next day. The song isn't as down as it appears on the surface.

The point being, everybody has crappy days. I spent most of Sunday night with a friend who's good friend was just diagnosed with lymphoma. Life is short. Play hard and embrace what you have. And change the things you can.

one word: teacher

That should give you a reason to wake up in the morning.

I agree with the "Do you live to work or work to live" sentiment. Sure you need to put food on the table and keep the rain off of your (and your family's) head, but if you look around you'll most likely find that there are quite a number of people getting by with less then you. Conversely, being rich does not coorelate very well with happiness -- read the annual articles in People about past lottery winners.

At the end of the day, it's your life to live each day -- don't let others dictate to you what you need to do. Make your plan from A to B, and then try to make some progress on it each day. What do you want your gravestone to say? Start from there and then work back to what you can do today to move yourself one step closer to that reality. I can tell you from personal experience that nothing sucks the life out of you like a job that you don't like -- so I can understand your frustration.

Here's an different idea. I had a fun job, good income and was working in a company which had a lot of people that I respected, and I felt that I was contributing to society. Then my business was sold, and while I was still working with many of the same people, there was new Sr. management, with new priorities. Very quickly the job changed to where it just sucked the life out of me when I went to work.

Only once I started to realize that if I had been hired to that job off the street I most likely would have been happier then I was doing the same job with new management -- did it become clear to me that the primary component of my professional happiness was me. It was up to me to chose to like or hate my job. If I couldn't make myself like it, it was better for me to quit and find something that would make me happy doing it. Which is what I did. I quit without a new job lined up. I spent about 9 months as Mr. Mom -- we pulled the kids out of day care most days to save money, I took them to local kids museums and the library (cheap places to take kids), made dinner, cleaned the house (and surfed Pelican Parts BBS). While I didn't have much cash for my 911 projects, I was a world happier and got to spend some special time with my daughters. Eventually I found another job closer to what I really wanted to do, in an industry that I wanted to be in. I don't make as much money, but the people are nice, I get to work from home and see my girls off and on the bus, and have occasional travel overseas to places that I've never been to before. Am I happier? You betcha!

So go out and try something different! It can't be much worse then what you're going through right now!

Me too....so, at the risk of being banned? Screw you, Mr. Moderator! Even a slave in an ancient salt mine has hope...as long as he's alive. No life equals no hope.

my poor son is so misunderstood.

oh, like i'm going to ban you for that. Get real. Some of you guys piss and moan like little girls about how unfair the board is...yet there have been what, 3 people banned in the last 5 years? Holy cow, we're out of control!

And what, you're the only one that can be grumpy?

Like is said, the song isn't about what you think it is. Try scratching a little deeper...

look mom, I'm still waiting for the damn car advice. That's why I'm so cranky...

You're forgiven.

sorry about that. A BMW F3 would be perfect for you, but it won't be out for a couple more years.

not sure what car is right for you, haven't driven most of them.

plus, like all moms, I may not know what's right for you, but you're darn tootin' I know what's *wrong* for you. Like that slushbox VW. And that last wife of yours.

Ram,
Glad you had the nutbag to voice off. You know (as well as many other folks on this bored) that the onlything stopped us from achieving everything we want is desire and confidence. It really has less to do with ability and more to do with motivation.

If you are blessed with any chops and you want to work your arse off then you shall get what you want and more.

Leave the job and get on with it. ***** the fact that you have nothing lined up. You will have to get your shyt together but you'll do fine. Better then before.

Then again, I'm a pill popping idiot from Tejas so take anything I say with two fingers of Scotch!

about time you spoke up mom. Yeah, the slushbox is just wrong. But looking at about 33% depreciation in 9 months. Japanese cars are looking better every day...that's about what my Subie did over 2 years.

I thought the slushbox was the ex-wife, no? What are we talking about exactly again?