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Thank you. My takeaway -- as a help for others in similar situations or if I ever fall into this situation -- is to live below my means (TV is a luxury) and to

by Xurinos 16y ago

Thank you. My takeaway -- as a help for others in similar situations or if I ever fall into this situation -- is to live below my means (TV is a luxury) and to work harder to pay off those things that are outside normal cost of living. These are good lessons, and it sounds like it was pure determination wrought from shame that motivated you... that the key is to get motivated in the first place to achieve the goal of leaving poverty. What about sleep? Health? You seemed to pull yourself out, but what was the cost to your body and mental state? How long did it take?

jeb 16y ago
There was no cost to my body as I used the opportunity to exercise a lot as a way of distraction, but socially and mentally, the experience was pretty tough. That shit changed me - if you look at my photos from before and from now, my face is different. Before I looked relaxed and kind of nice-guyish, now I look kind of harder and more evil, if I may put it that way. I really felt as if I was put through some kind of wringer, and came out tougher, but I also lost part of my humanity. I'm just not as nice a person anymore, less patient, more angry, not as easy-going, not quite as pleasant to be around. So yes, that shit was not free. I paid for it, I got what I wanted in the end, but I know I'm definitely not the same person as before.
- klenwell 16y ago
  This comment is kind of harrowing. Interesting self-observation.
- mcantor 16y ago
  You seem to have a flare for melodrama. I say this only because I do, too, and I feel like I am seeing it in you. Be careful with that, when you are writing the narrative of your own life.
- jodrellblank 16y ago
  Ever heard the phrase "poor but happy"?
  - pbhjpbhj 16y ago
    It's an interesting theory ... One often looks at the materially poor in developing world and finds them to be at least superficially happy. The problem here in the west for me is the question of stability - I'm poor and happy but when 20% VAT hits if business goes down the tube then we'll be down and outs. Literally we're on a knife edge highly susceptible to external forces in a way that makes it hard to be completely content.

by Xurinos 16y ago

jeb 16y ago

There was no cost to my body as I used the opportunity to exercise a lot as a way of distraction, but socially and mentally, the experience was pretty tough. That shit changed me - if you look at my photos from before and from now, my face is different. Before I looked relaxed and kind of nice-guyish, now I look kind of harder and more evil, if I may put it that way. I really felt as if I was put through some kind of wringer, and came out tougher, but I also lost part of my humanity. I'm just not as nice a person anymore, less patient, more angry, not as easy-going, not quite as pleasant to be around. So yes, that shit was not free. I paid for it, I got what I wanted in the end, but I know I'm definitely not the same person as before.

klenwell 16y ago
This comment is kind of harrowing. Interesting self-observation.
mcantor 16y ago
You seem to have a flare for melodrama. I say this only because I do, too, and I feel like I am seeing it in you. Be careful with that, when you are writing the narrative of your own life.
jodrellblank 16y ago
Ever heard the phrase "poor but happy"?
- pbhjpbhj 16y ago
  It's an interesting theory ... One often looks at the materially poor in developing world and finds them to be at least superficially happy. The problem here in the west for me is the question of stability - I'm poor and happy but when 20% VAT hits if business goes down the tube then we'll be down and outs. Literally we're on a knife edge highly susceptible to external forces in a way that makes it hard to be completely content.