The (NOT SO) Skinny Girl

As an early millennial- as someone who graduated HS in the early 2000's and then graduated college right around the time Obama became president- I am well aware of the reality of living with more debt than income. Borrowing $30-40k a year for 4 years of college put me behind the curve, since it's pretty hard for a full time college student to hold down a full time job. I worked numerous odd jobs and held a part time one, but I also had limited savings and money I made was quickly and easily spent on everyday living (necessity or not). Mom and Dad didn't provide much financial aid outside the academic necessities- books, food, health/car insurance. Even though I started looking about midway through my last semester, upon graduation I realized that I needed a full time job quickly- the loan companies had already let me know that repayment began 6 months after graduation and that they were in the process of calculating my monthly amounts😖. I looked as far away as Australia,...

I've been struggling with infertility for almost 2 years now. Hanging around with people who are deciding when to have their second or third child is really wearing me down right now. I've been struggling with depression for over a year now. Money issues, infertility, career struggles, anxiety, normal marital issues... all contribute to my depression. All contributed to night terrors and panic attacks.... all contributed to suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts led me to seek help. I've been struggling, I've been working hard to pull myself out of the emotional hole I was living in. The fall was not quick, it was one thing after another pushing me down, down, deeper. The upward battle was a crawl at best. But there were road blocks. The biggest road block was not knowing what path I wanted to take. The biggest set back was knowing I wan't happy with many aspects of my life, and not working on the BIGGEST ones. The little baby steps I took, they were barely notic...

I have a Bachelor of Science in Large Animal (Equine)Science. I studied cows, pigs, llamas, goats, sheep, horses...Even bison at one point! Everything large and in charge in the domestic animal world. I believe my diploma says "Equine Science and Management, specialization in Equine Breeding". What did I want to do?? I was once told the back side of the track was not the place for a "girl", but I wanted that life so bad. I wanted to be the go-to, do-it-all thoroughbred girl: managing the foaling, weaning them at about 6 months, taking the yearlings at the sale, taking the two-year-olds to the track for breezing. I have foaled out many a mare, I have handled many a new foal, I have collected stallions, I have had walked the colic-er all night, I have held a broken leg in my hand, I have pinched ripped skin to determine is staples or sutures or packing is appropriate. I have jogged a "mile back" on the track on a crisp summer morning. I have taught ...

If you didn't know... I have all of the above....piercings, tattoos, and dyed hair. I have been told multiple times over the years that your employers do not have to hire you for ANY reason and that can fire you at will. For anything. Literally, anything. it's called "being willfully employed". This post is based on a statement made in a video labeled " It's time to end the stigma around body piercings (via ATTN:)."  https://socialfeed.info/it-s-time-to-end-the-stigma-around-body-piercings-via-attn-12560740 The general gist of the statement that I got is that "Employees should be judged on performance, not appearance" and at the same time that "piercings reflect individuality, not professionalism". Wait, what?! I find this pieced together statement to be contradictory. And it proves what is wrong with this narrative. So, let me get this straight- don't judge me by how I look, go out on a limb and pay me for a few weeks and t...

Let's talk about careers, jobs, income. Let's imagine you're a young kid. Before you even go to school, people ask you what you want to be when you grow up. And maybe you say fireman, policeman, doctor, builder, artist. Most likely you say something you've seen that stands out to you. Maybe Mom or Dad does it, maybe uncle or grandpa, or maybe just a character from TV. So you saw it and understand the job they do, and you decide that when you grow up that's what you want to be. So let's pick one... we'll go with firefighter. Because a lot of people perceive them to be heroes, and then maybe assume that such a dangerous and overly helpful job-because it benefits so many people- must be prosperous. So not only are you a hero, lots of people will need your help so you have job security, but it must pay well. So even as a little kid you put it together that it's a great job to have. Money, fame, etc. OK. Good choice. What's the reality of the job thou...