PLEASE PF... don't say that toooo loud... some may take you seriously... and all the nice eligible bachelors will have to endure long periods without Pixies... tho.. that would be all it would take to get my old avatar out of retirement (the least I can do to support our troops again).


dadaist... your questions are all good ones.. but none of them come with easy answers....

the following are just my opinion.. based on my experience... and won't necessarily be something you feel comfortable..

#1: Low self esteem... the best thing you can do is surround yourself with people who love you and support you.. remind yourself daily (out loud) of some of the characteristics that you LOVE about yourself... even if you start at the little things... if you do this on a regular basis, you will be better able to identify the big things about yourself that you like.

#2: I am like the WORST person here at Pixies to answer this I think. I can only say (and this IS easier said than done) to take the chance. Say hello to the person at the mail box, at the grocery store, at the bank, etc...

#3: This one is a toughy... my natural reaction when I am down is to withdrawl... become homebound.. and alienate myself from those that I love... fortunately for me.. I have my son... so he is my reason for getting over it

#4: My only suggestion is to better yourself thru education. Yes, the economy is tough.... but it has been tough for many years and there is never a guarantee that it will improve. After my divorce, at the age of 27... I was a Wal-Mart employee. As a single mom it didn't take me long to realize that if I stayed where I was career wise, I would never be any better off financially and that I would struggle to give my son the life I felt he deserved. Just after my 28th birthday I went to college... altho at first it was a very daunting and scarey task.. I took it on... and I conquered my fears...

No matter what.. don't.. and I mean DON'T listen to PF (sorry PF, I know you meant it in jest... right?), joining the Army is not the answer to solving lifes difficulties (I know..... been there... done that... tho it was the Navy for me). The military is an opportunity to enhance ones goals.. not to run from them

off my soap box now before I slip and hit my head.