I can do much relate and I hear your pain. I am 41 and balancing kid, family and career is really challenging. What helps me is do define every day at least one thing a day (sometimes as small as reading 15 minutes alone something I like in silence :)) which I will really enjoy and which is purely for myself and then implementing it. There is no one else outside who would no better than yourself what and how to make you happy, but it’s important to do (even small or limited in time) things which make YOU and only YOU happy.

Hi Anon &#8211; Your comment about &#8216;forced positivity&#8217; got me thinking. You are right. Sometimes all those comments about &#8216;being strong&#8217;, &#8216;keeping going&#8217; &#8211; despite of the fact that are meant to empower you &#8211; force you to move from one stage (often negative one) to another stage (often positive one) without really understanding why you ended up in the first stage at all. I think we need to stop for a moment and think what it is that makes us miserable. And once identified, change it. Sometimes those are small and easy changes; sometimes these are massive and scary ones. One way or another, it&#8217;s important to know what it is and then owning the decision whether or not we will address it.

Thanks for sharing this. I also feel somehow irrelevant. On the other hand if I am sick (or for any orher reason unavailable) my hausehold almost collapses cuz noone knows what to do😅 Just keep going. You will get where you want to be. Promise💪

Hi there &#8211; I am 38 and have very similar thoughts. What keeps me going is remembering that after those 2 nightmare years everything is coming back to normal and joy will come back at some point too. Sending hugs

I feel sad but also a bit hyper. I had a drink earlier which took the edge off then got all sad and hyper at the same time. Manically sad maybe? Giggly to myself on the outside but also sad on the inside. I&#8217;m so overwhelmed and many would say my life is easy, but I&#8217;m definitely tired and not coping with work family housework etc. Always wondering why I can&#8217;t do it all, then it gets too much and I crash out emotionally. Quietly. Not crying. Just, hollow, inside. I want what I can&#8217;t have. Or at least I think I do. But if I had it, fun excitement, would I be happy. I think I just want some support at home, but I barely have any. I&#8217;m just existing for everyone else, I&#8217;m not living for me like everyone tells me I should. I&#8217;m worried I&#8217;ll have so many regrets when I&#8217;m older. I&#8217;m 38 now.

Great to see you here!

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