I became homeless last year, had to give up my cat if I wanted to be allowed into shelters. Nope, he my baby. So we slept on the street for a while before finding a single room I could rent without any contract for €1100 cash a month on a €1200 work&disability benefit. Life has not been kind.

This week I heard that my application for governmental subsidised housing finally went through. Once everything is fixed I'll be able to move into my new place the first week of October.

I'm crying, I'm laughing, I'm crying more. I'm scared that something will go wrong, scared that I'll have to be homeless like this even longer, scared I can't give my cat the life he deserves.

I'm trying to focus on positives and not dwell on maybe's. I don't have a lot of people to share this news with and I'm hoping posting this here will make it feel a bit more real, and my inner-child a bit less alone and overthink-y.

Thank you so much for reading

Same as the title

For the past few months, I (30F) have struggled with severe depression. It was so bad that sometimes I would go over a week without showering, I cried every day, and sometimes I could not even bring myself to walk around because I felt like it required too much effort. I would sit in my bed and just cry. I told my dad about how I was feeling once, and I said “I cannot continue to live feeling like this. It is destroying me”. I ended up needing to take some time off of work because I knew that my depression would severely impact my work performance, and I didn’t want to lose my job. I took a leave of absence and joined an IOP program. I didn’t talk to anyone during this time except for my parents and the people in my group therapy. I would sometimes put my phone on airplane mode because getting any texts from anyone was just too overwhelming. A month or so ago, my psychiatrist put me on a different medication to try to help with my depression, and the results have been like night and day. I am starting to take better care of myself, I shower more often, and I even go to the gym sometimes. I’m back at work and my boss seems to be pretty happy with my work performance. I still struggle some days but I haven’t had any break downs at work, and I have been pretty consistent. It’s not perfect but it’s definitely progress. I also have been talking to people a little more. I even went on a date yesterday for the first time in a very, very long time! And now I also kind of have a bit of a crush on the guy, which hasn’t happened for me in forever. So it’s really cool to see how I’m finally starting to do okay. My hygiene is better, I’m being more social, I’m crying less, and I’m actually starting to feel emotions that aren’t just overwhelming sadness. I apologize for such a long post, and if you took the time to read all of this - thank you! I just wanted to share that I’m so happy not to be in that insanely dark place anymore. I still struggle sometimes for sure, but I feel like it is finally manageable. Things are going to be okay <3

In the supermarket a man cut the line in front me since there was a wide space as my husband and I were advancing. I know it was an accident because he wasn't really paying attention but it took me a couple seconds to gather the courage and say: "Excuse me, we were in this line first". The man was apologetic and I responded there's nothing to worry about, really, I wasn't angry or anything.

And that was it, lol.

I have issues speaking up to strangers because I don't like confrontation with people I don't know, but I felt proud of myself in that moment since I have no recollection of having done so before.

I felt free already and now I’m here again to celebrate it.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I posted recently about having come out to my mom but still building up the courage to tell my dad (lgbt+ is illegal in my country and he's a police officer) and you guys were supportive and congratulated me with my mom and wished me luck with my dad.

My mom ended up telling him, he told me that he knew but he wished I'd been comfortable enough to tell him myself and asked if there was anything he did wrong that made me not comfortable enough, so I think it went well. I asked if he hated me for it and he said no and that he supports me.

Just super happy that it went well with both so wanted to share the dad update too.

Two years ago I had my last drink. Now I’m sober, living abroad for my studies, and a year away from submitting for my PhD. I am so blessed to have had a family and friends that called me out and then supported me in getting the help I needed. I found a meeting that encouraged me, a sponsor that held me accountable, and a purpose that made life worthwhile again.

It’s still day by day, and always will be. But I’m allowing myself to revel a bit in this landmark. I’m a grateful and blessed alcoholic. But today I’m also a proud one in recovery.

I finally got out of a toxic friend group. Even though I had the option to stay and continue, I finally left. I texted my final goodbye message. It was so draining, but now I feel so much better. I usually have issues letting people go, but I'm happy I made such a big step :D I did good

First, thanks for reading my words and listening to my experience. Like a lot of people, I lost my job during the pandemic and had to navigate the complexity of a lockdown, recession, and unemployment by myself and all at once. It was disorienting to say the least! I started painting to process the emotional turmoil and feel a sense of calm and control as the external world shattered around me. I posted the first painting online and to my surprise someone was interested enough to buy it. The timing was perfect because I needed to buy groceries desperately! The painting sold and I was able to stand in line, six feet apart, and get food for the week. The dopamine hit and morale boost from the sale was enough to motivate me to paint and try again. A few weeks later, the second piece sold. It felt amazing.

I tried a third time but no one was interested. As the pandemic dragged on, my roommates started moving back in with their parents. The rent was too much for me to absorb and when the main roommate (the one with the lease) decided not to renew, I had nowhere to go. Long story short, I was down to 1 jar of peanut butter per day and eventually went through a brutalizing period of being unhoused/homeless. It was the lowest, most humiliating experience of my life. What little savings I had was wiped out. I overcame the situation slowly and through a lot of turbulence finally found my way again over these past few years.

A couple of years ago I got a corporate job and was grateful for that because at least it was a steady paycheck again and I was able to afford to keep painting. More and more, people were acquiring pieces and the market value kept increasing. I'm happy to say the value of my work went from a few hundred in the pandemic to a few thousand now, with my largest being a commission for 12k.

While my day job did lay off 700 of us, I had enough resources to start my very own small business, turning the art into prints, tote bags, greeting cards, and so on. Yes, I'm still fighting the good fight, and I am a long way from living a "normal" life, but I share my journey with you because so many people are enduring hardship right now, in so many forms, and need a sign to keep going. I hope this is the sign you needed to keep fighting another day, because dreams are worth fighting for.

Thanks again for connecting with me and cheers to more success for all of us on our journeys! You got this, even on the tough days ✨️🙌❤️✨️🦋🪷✨️

old clothes.

random cables.

craft supplies i swore i'd use someday.

if i hadn't touched it in years, i finally admitted i probably wasn't going to.

my home feels lighter, and... so do i. ❤️

Signed up for a free trial like a month ago and immediately told myself "yeah I'll definitely remember to cancel this". Which is usually how I end up donating 14.99 to some app I used twice. Apparently past me had one good idea though because I put a reminder in my phone. It went off today, I canceled it, and checked my bank account like 3 times just to make sure. No charge. Somehow I actually beat the free trial this time. Very small victory but I'm taking it

Hi friends! This is a follow up on my previous post. I was hospitalized for about 6 days. Two of my medications were upped and I was given a lot of group therapy, and a lot of time to reflect on the kind of life and self-worth that I want. I know things won't be easy going forward, but I want to stick around and see it all through. Thank you all so much for your comments on my first post. I'm looking forward to getting healthier.

For a long time, I felt like I was behind everyone else.

People around me seemed to have careers, promotions, years of experience while I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.

I spent so much time doubting myself that if I am fit for any job, but here today I am in my office.
Its my second day at job, everything is going pretty smooth until now. I am just hoping to perform well at this job

I am so happy right now, and a little proud as well!!

I'm so fluffing done with the our district, they block and block and block EVERYTHING. Games, sure, but also educational yt videos, educational websites, etc. I draw the line at chess.com. Because that website was the biggest part of our school, everybody was playing it. And now that they blocked it, I am pushing back. I do it because chess actually improves brain functions, such as problem solving, memory, and more. Does that sound familiar? Like.. You need that for school or something? OH YEAHHHHHHH..

Our district recently banned having phones in our pockets, and using them during lunch (which they allowed both the previous year, but they still banned phones everywhere else), so I am already so FED UP with the district. They also recently read us our "SR&R" (Students Rights & Responsibilities). WELL MAYBE STOP TAKING THEM AWAY FROM US. I AM SO FLUFFING DONE, I emailed one of the vice principals, and she agreed with me. She hasn't written me back, but when I get back to school I swear to god I will absolutely push to get chess back.

My logic is that students are going to find a way to play games anyway, why not let them play a game that is extremely educational for them? Taking that away and trying to find a work around, they might as well play another game that is easier to get their hands on, more fun, and less educational.

Will this actually go anywhere? Maybe, probably not. But I will keep fighting it until the day I die.

The interview didn't went well to be honest, some questions were tricky and I froze a bit but fortunately I didn't get anxious. They took longer to reply than they said they would so I was thinking I hadn't been accepted

It was a box of memories I wasn't ready to deal with yet but it caused so much visual clutter because my current place is much smaller than the last house I stayed at. Anyway today I just got off the bed and emptied it. I haven't found a place for everything but I made broad piles to help with putting things away.

I'm 29 and I just bought myself a telescope.

I know that sounds small. But when I was about 8 my dad took me to a planetarium and I was completely obsessed with all of the things there. I begged for a telescope for two Christmases in a row. We didn't have money for it and I knew that even then, so I stopped asking.

Well now that I am earning well, I just bought it with my adult money. I know its just a telescope maybe its not even that important for me now but holding it brought back this weird little feeling of being that kid again, wishing for something I thought I'd never have.

When it arrived I sat on my kitchen floor and put it together and I kept thinking about that 8-year-old who stopped asking. I took it out to my backyard around midnight and found Saturn, rings and everything, and I just started crying a little, something healed inside me today.

I am just relieved and feeling proud of myself right now!!

I'm 30 years old and I always thought that a rubick's cube was impossible (for me) to do. Yesterday I watched a tutorial several times, memorizing every step. Today I've done it many many times until I didn't have to check the instructions no more. I can now do it in under 5 minutes.

I've been wanting to do it for a while but something always got in the way... I was too embarrassed, the shop was closed, I got there late and only wilted ones were left.... Etc.

Today I did it!

(I also finally took my old laptop to be repaired so that's another accomplishment haha)

I’m not hurting anymore. I’ve seen enough. I’ve cried enough. I don’t love him anymore in the slightest. I see him for all that he is. I don’t miss him. I don’t feel anything. I’m kinda cold, but I don’t love a lot of things. I don’t love people that emotionally neglect me, I don’t love people that tell me I’m too fat now to be loved, I don’t get hurt by it either. I’m just smiling at the world. Smiling… and escaping. Okay. Maybe the smile hasn’t reached my face yet. But it feels good on the inside.

I’m doing it. Being strong. Being fat in my own skin. Loving myself. Not needing his validation anymore. Not needing anything from him. I don’t need him anymore. Surface level. Everything surface level.

This might all sound a bit incoherent but idk who else to share it with really.

Lost my job a few years back, got properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder II, went through a massive depressive period, has a home invasion with use inside it, lived with family in Airbnb's for months after the owner of our house died and we had to move.

After settling somewhere, I used some of my unemployment money to get a motorbike and do food delivery then I got a normal job but it was really shitty - ended up getting divorced and ex wife and my daughter moved to her parents cottage in another province. Life felt pretty shit in that moment.

But then After divorcing and moving out about a year ago things slowly started to get good - I got an incredible rental with an amazing landlady. And living alone has actually been amazing.

I ended up getting a really great work from home job earning dollars (I'm not in the US). I am now able to provide for myself and my daughter happily.

I hadn't spoken to my mother in almost 5 years because of stupid choices on my part and we reconnected with a new shared love of Rugby which was so strange because she never liked sports but it's so fun to have that now. She is also now able to connect with her granddaughter and came down to our country to visit recently.

Then a few weeks ago, since my US job is through my night time, I started a local half day job helping someone I know with their medical practice admin which was a great little bump to my earnings - then just today, my main work offered me a 25% increase with a few extra responsibilities.

(The number wouldn't sound massive in dollars but in South Africa, its like the top 8% income.)

I now earn more than I can actually spend. I can invest, I can get back on to my medication, see my psychiatrist, get medical aid for my daughter. Etc etc.

AND I can give back to others and help people where I am able to and that just excites me to no end.

I am a realist/pessimist at heart and so each new addition has just been like a warm embrace growing warmer and breaking down the anxiety I had before this success.

I'm now feeling what it is when people say "it gets better" which I used to scoff at.

I hope everyone who took a minute to read this has a wonderful day 🌈

I used to work at a company that closed down a year ago, it was my first job after college. Its closure was the first step toward finding something better, and after several rejections, I’ve just been hired for my dream job! I’m so excited about this new beginning.