Is it really not too late?

[JayARC]

Hello, forgive the potential disjointedness of this. I guess I am arguing with myself about outlook, apart from anything else. The last ten plus years have seen lots of problems, not least severe episodes of mental health problems (bipolar). This all seems to be stabilised, at the moment, and I am ok at the moment, clinically. My work history has been pretty rubbish - I started a law degree and had to stop it due to ill health, and wasn't well enough to go back. I did lots of admin/temping before my daughter (8) was born, which I couldn't stand but it was a 'stop gap' until I had some sort of Plan. Anyway, without stringing this out and risking boring you further - I still need A Plan. I am lacking confidence, yes, and a driving license, and live in an area where public transport is rubbish. But I really want to find something to train in, and in x number of years be good, then better and feel that it may be possible to still be 'successful' - defined here as being able to buy a house one day, live comfortably, feel like I have a good career. I have found the threads on here about aiming high very interesting. And possibly the idea that becoming very good at something quite niche could be a good one. But I don't know where to start. It's like I have lost identity so completely I don't even know what I like any more. I've been on my own with my daughter, and want to provide for us: benefits are a necessity whilst ill and now I am not. It saddens me that my last 'success' was school - I miss the feeling that I am really good at stuff, and maybe have mostly discounted the possibility that I could be really good at something again. I don't want to do a degree - financially apart from anything no feasible, but I would like a path which has some degree of progression. It is a flaw of mine that I always want to know the next step, and I know there are no guarantees. But Googling 'work from home' and even with training competing with millions of freelancers on the interweb in copywriting...gosh, I am making little sense and this is far too long. Sorry. Any help appreciated.

[fatfingers]

What job do you want to do? What are you interested in? Are you looking for something you can do from home or are you looking for a job outside the home?

[JayARC]

I don't mind if it's outside home or from home, though the lack of driving license does restrict me. I could use the train, which isn't far from me. I thought maybe training in something I could then work hard at and set up some kind of small business, so that it would be flexible around my daughter's school and holidays, but I have no clue what I want to do. Not a clue. I have few interests really, apart from my daughter I don't have much of a sense of who I am at all any more. I would like to feel useful in some way, and to work hard and earn some money, start from the bottom, get new skills. I am sorry, I realise it's not much to go on. I suppose I wondered if anyone knew of some good places to go for advice. I have an appointment to see a guy who runs a local jobs club this week, which may spark some ideas. I have done some voluntary work which was rewarding, and the idea I had continues to be implemented in one of the local hospitals. I am proud of this in a minor way, I like the idea that I have helped people somehow.

[fatfingers]

Did you enjoy the type of work you did voluntarily? Is that something you could pursue?

What about - as you mention that you've lost a sense of who you are - starting off by doing an adult education course in something that looks like it might be interesting. If you want to set up your own business, you could look for adult courses that would give you suitable skills e.g. if you like the idea of a gardening business try out a gardening course or do a pottery course with a view to starting up a pottery business.

[JayARC]

Thank you very much for replying. I did enjoy the volunteering, but theTrust has taken my idea and thanked me and is running it. I designed it to help people and it does, rather than be a money spinner. I have been sidelined in terms of the future of the project but I am reconciled to that now.

It just seems with courses that it's a huge gamble - I have so little money that it has to work, I haven't room for indulgence, I guess. I know what you mean, but so much is invested in a tiny step...gah! I don't know. Despondent today. Saw old school friend, doing incredibly well. Very happy for her, just feel cheated out of what was ahead because of ill health. I need to turn this around because I don't want to get bitter, I want to beat the odds. But so sad tonight.