Hello Lindsey30,
Welcome to this forum and thank you for sharing your story. It’s not easy loosing your job. Not only from a financial point of view but also social and networking. Work offers so much more than just money. No wonder most people link so much of our working role with our self identity. We say ‘I am an electrician, or I am a doctor etc’. What we do is often who we are. Being unemployed can be very tough for many and can make us feel we have indeed nothing left in our lives. This is especially true for migrants and newly arrived people who may not have family, friends or a sense of belonging in this new country.
There’s so much emphasis on material gains and success is often linked with possessions and by the time someone is 30 they’re supposed to have worked it all out. The reality is that it is different for every person. Not everyone owns a house. Not all have successful careers by the time we turn 30. Not everyone finds love or has relationships that are fulfilling.
I know many people into their 50s who like me, are renting and have no partners. This doesn’t mean that they’re failures. Success and happiness are very individual things. It’s not a bad place to be if you don’t know what to do with your life right now, as this opens up opportunities to experiment with different things and explore a variety of options. If nothing makes you happy currently then maybe you will create something new that you’ve never tried before and that would be meaningful for you in your life. You won’t know until you try. Until it happens. If you feel like a failure now, it could be because you are ready to move into new areas and grow in diverse ways.
We are not like trees - stuck in the ground. We can move! I always said if nothing goes right, go left! Please don’t despair and don’t give up. Be gentle with your self and allow this crisis to lead you to something different, something better. X