Once again we seem to be in the same position as we found ourselves two or three years ago.

No one seems to have the first idea of what is going on or is actually going to happen and all that it is resulting in is that everything is confused and surrounded in spin and scaremongering.

All the people want and need are the hard facts and numbers so they  can make an informed and honest decision for our future. 

As it stands we don’t have a hope in hell of deciphering the true from the false and our Government will just blunder on regardless because their term of office will be done and dusted when the true horrors will emerge. These leaders will have their pockets and futures secured and filled and will be able to sit back and let some poor mugs carry the can.

The older generation will have little worries as they probably will not be around to see the results of blind justice.

The real problem area are the nursery school children who will have to grow up and shoulder the responsibility and try and make something out of this disaster. 

However, attitudes must change. Capitalism, boardroom greed, out of touch leadership, bonuses for incompetence, dishonesty and pay gaps must be looked at and changes must be made to regain a balance in society that will embed trust, stability and a beneficial future for all.

Sadly, I  cannot see this happening as our role models have no moral compass, leadership skills, honesty or benevolence outside their own selfish estates.

So my view at present is we are doomed to remain, ill-equipped to leave and totally misrepresented to make a choice.

Democracy? 

I love my job but hate the politics and unrelenting demands and bullying that seem to increase monthly to justify the bonus culture and fat cat business practises by those incharge. So I may love my job but I hate actually doing it under these constraints.

With very few qualifications or relevant skill sets it is not an easy ask to find a job that renumerates  one at the same level. Happiness is the key but if that price comes at a lower cost then the results would be catastrophic.

I am by no means old but I am certainly not young. Age is not the important factor here it is the physical abilities to keep going.

Retirement is not an option at present as mortgages and such bar the way let alone the fact that the savings pot is almost empty. However, one must begin to think about it.

And here lies the problem or question. What to do?

Many people have hobbies and interests that gradually take over their lives and work then lessens and the hobby takes over until one day it replaces work entirely. Some love their work that they remain in it regardless of age. This is all well and good but for those of us that do not want endless days of nothing it is all very daunting and reminds us of days gone by.

When I was about to leave school I had to attend a careers advice session. Great, I thought until it was over and I was none the wiser and in this state of ambient limbo I have remained. I am confident that I have attributes and skills way above what I give but sadly they have not been drawn out of me and I don’t have the direction to focus on to show them.

I am not saying I do not have interests. Far from it. What I lack, though, is something “filling the day” interesting. I am sure I am not alone in this.

I cannot retire with nothing to do but finding something that inspires me never seems to materialise. However much I seek, whatever I discover and whoever gives advice it just is not what floats my boat or is so expensive that it is dismissed.

So this is what worries me. I must be lazy at heart. I do not particularly relish the day that I wander into town to sit in coffee shops to read the paper, watch the world go by, walk about a bit till its time to go home for an afternoon and evening of television and bed. Equally, I could not see myself sailing round the world single handedly.

The countdown to retirement is real and somehow between now and ten years time I have to set out some sort of plan to realise that dream.

Life has brought me this far and I am proud that I am beginning to overcome one of my crippling conditions through hard work and looking at things in a different way so who knows what influences are around the corner.

Now these words are not necessarily for me or about me for once but I do have experience in this field and maybe they can be of some little support for others.

Today a friend went to a meeting and had to be in the presence of some drug users and alcohol dependents. For most they would just walk past and, even though they may wrinkle their noses and shun them, just carry on regardless. However, it sparked very dark memories for this person and caused a powerful reaction that made them run a mile.

This is very sad and profoundly worrisome but totally understandable.

Why on earth do these generic meetings have to be? It is unacceptable that others have to be exposed to the socially abusive results that some people cause for others.

It would be better if groups were limited to the sectors of society where one isn’t subject to others odours and slothful appearances.

I hate to discriminate against people who are less capable of self control and who slip into addictions but it can cause problematic reactions for some.

However, if one finds themselves reminded of personal dark days because of certain events then help is needed to bring back some sense of normality.

One way is to flip this situation and use it to move forward as it is far more constructive to realise that their lives are better than they were. Use the positives around them like grand children, friends, a sunny autumn day, the wonderful scenes of seasonal change and maybe the simple things in life that can cause a smile.

The mind is a complex area and can take a lot of twists and turns but holding on to crap memories is something it can do without. Making lists of the dark days and then seeing where or what happened after is a way of spinning this information as later events of happiness may never have taken place was it not for the former experiences.

Bear in mind there is more support out there than one thinks and just because there may not be a physical stick to lean on or a person to hold for comfort there are thoughts and prayers in the ether that can be latched onto for aid.

Don’t dwell on dark memories as there is far more positive energy to be ingested that will make for a stronger and more wiser being.

Life can be shit but without it then it becomes very mundane and average.