Hello @Former-Member and others here,
Hi @Former-Member
I like the way that you have presented your thoughts and ideas here and on the "Good Morning" thread. I hope that a little information about and from me may help you in your quest for employment and a decent life in front of you.
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I'm 70 now and still hold a multi-combination driver's licence, also taxi, bus and motor-cycle endorsements. Though I haven't driven a truck for 10 years. I drove school bus runs for about 15 years. Tried for transport trucking but told that I was too old. I still retain the licences in case I can help someone, which would also be good for me.
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Earlier in my work life, paradoxically, I worked in employment placement work. I often used to say that I worked for the client, not the department (public service). I really enjoyed that work; the satisfaction of being able to connect people with work, and especially some who wrote back saying "Thank you for your help, I have been able to get myself a position". They were actually among the most rewarding, partly because they wrote back, but also knowing that I had given them ideas and, or the confidence to put themselves forward strongly enough to secure the position. I worked with people with disabilities, school students and leavers, people who had been unemployed for extended periods, refugees from various countries, apprenticeships and other areas.
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But, even at that time, I was dealing with depression, and personal issues, etc. Like you I tended to try to push myself through. Unfortunately, I either didn't respond well or didn't receive appropriate support. The support structures have improved greatly in recent years. I do believe that it is imperative to seek, access and use the resources that are available to you. I guess that my own pride got in my way a lot of the time. So my work history was also turbulent, as was my personal life. Indeed, I am not really sure that the issues that I have faced have been properly identified. Rather, I believe that they have not. At my age, is it important? Now it is simply a matter of living the best life that I can.
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I do believe that identification of a persons psychologically based issues is extremely important in order to achieve and maintain the maximum possible stability in work and personal life. And the earlier that identification or diagnosis occurs, the better. Notwithstanding concerns about labels and labelling. When individuals (you and me), partners, family, friends and sometimes, even work associates, are not aware of the background reasons for a persons presenting problems or difficulties, it is often treated as “too hard”. That is not to say that difficulties will not arise in the future, after identification and diagnosis. However, if reasons are established, determined, and to some degree defined, it is much easier to address the issues, and for others to provide informed support. There is often some degree of trial and error in addressing psychological issues, and as long as that is acknowledged, the process may be easier. I'm not suggesting “guinea pig” status, but a preparedness to work honestly and constructively with medically and psychologically based support people. For this reason, I believe, that it is also extremely important that you feel comfortable with, and confident in the people who are giving you that support.
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About 12 years ago, I commenced what was probably the best part of my life. My mother was not doing well in aged care. She came to live with me, which was, for me a pleasure and a privilege. My brother acknowledged that he believed that Mum would not have lived another 2 years where she was before. Mum was with me for most of the 10 years, and we were able to join in his family special events during that time. My oldest daughter had significant contact also. When Mum went into aged care again, during the last couple of years, she was only 750 metres away and I was able to visit her each day, and we went away for a couple of weeks at a time. This is not meant to be a projection of a situation where anyone else might find themselves, but a statement that you never know where the pearls in your life might come from. Had my father remained alive, I would have had very limited contact with my mother. Mum passed away 2 years ago. There really is no end to such loss, we just learn to accommodate it.
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But I'm here now, still prepared to work if I can, and being involved as much as I can in the small community in which I live.
With My Very Best Wishes
@HenryX
CC: @NatureLover @Anastasia @myoctopus @Lost9
