I lost my job, my son to drugs, and my mind all in one week. It took five years to straighten the whole mess out. The last piece of the puzzle fell into place last week with a refinanced mortgage to cover years of necessary credit card debt. My sister-in-law, also my best friend, and I were talking about it. We both thought it funny that five years ago our lives were a shambles and now literally everything is back on track. We both know that we fought for it an inch at a time but somehow feel like it "just happened'. The one thing we agreed on: When shit happens again (and it will. that's life), we will know it for what it is and not let the "down time" win.

Jon - I hate to repeat myself but you are one of my favorite people here on Mudcat. You may have been a "respectable Systems Coordinator" but I suspect you weren't happy. Money, respectability, status, power - it has no meaning. Inner peace is all there is. In time, you will see that you are achieving it a step at a time. When you find people loving you just because you are who you are, you must be doing something right.
I seriously considered suicide for a while. Actually lost my job (outside sales) because I was afraid to drive knowing I might deliberately move into oncoming traffic. Now I know life - at its worst- is still worth living. It took a lot of work and a long time to figure it out but I made it. The fact that you all are willing to talk about it is a good sign. Khandu, keep talking. The worm will turn.