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Bryan, good luck to you and your family.
Hope you will be around for a looong time.

 

Outside of possibly some medical issues, a lot of us are just like you.

I was born in 58, grew up in New York and New Jersey, I was an experimenter, and was voted most likely to wind up dead or in jail, in my HS Yearbook. I came to a crossroads tragically in 79! Thankfully the 2 real traits I possess are common sense and what I lacked in experience I gained in ambition. I always knew where the lines were drawn and the rules for which the game of life is played. I've never been one to intimidate easily, and I was not afraid to pave my own road through life. When I was told no or it can't be done, I had to try and prove it could and that the impossible would just take a little longer.

I also possess the gift of being able to understand and manipulate all things mechanical and electrical. Without a college degree I've accomplished what most only dream about. I had made varied successful career choices, and some not so.

I met my wife in the military, we were blessed with one son, and although we've had some precarious moments, and she managed to put up with me for 32 years. She has her personality issues also, however we are proud of this accomplishment.

You are correct, extreme debt will suffocate life. When you get this under control it will lift a great burden off your shoulders. Get help if you need it.

The car hobby is what keeps my sanity, but does not encompass my life, or put a financial burden on it. It's great to get in the car, start the engine, take a drive, and have what seems to be whole weight of the world lifted off your shoulders.

My .02, be a contributor in life, not a victim of. Create a budget plan that includes savings, some short and long term attainable and realistic goals, and take control. Hopefully your health issues will fall into place. If I had the opportunity to change anything in my past I would not, my past had led me to my future.

No regrets!

 

Bryan, I am glad that you have helped yourself turn some bad things around to benefit you in the long run. You need to pay special atten to that murmur and follow the doc's instructions. We are all different in many ways, and those just make us who we are. I am just a few years younger than you and I found at age 40 we start our health problems. Sometimes I feel like my car is in better shape than I am. But we should accept our problems and do the best we can to make things better and to take good care of ourselves. I finally stumbled across the right meds to take care of half my tendonitus issues, so that was an accomplishment, too.

I fit into your catagory of fixing things, too. Study the problem, make a plan, do a little research, then dive in head first. What I screw up will be part of the learning process! And I feel that it is always better to try to fix something than to avoid it in fear. If it is already broke, how much more can we break it?

So keep up your work on your car and the learning that goes with it. We only live once so let's enjoy what we like doing!

 

The one thing that's been a big help to my sanity is:
"No matter how bad things get, they could always be worse"!
And I've been through things that some have said they would've given up a long time ago.
It's History - just keep on keeping on!!!!!

 

That which does not kill me only succeeds in making me stronger.
Insanity is doing the same things expecting different results.
There are always others that have survived worse troubles then I .

 

Bryan- We all have made our share of mistakes and nearly all of us have encountered some type of health problem as we age. All you can do is make amends, get your health issues addressed and let those close to you know you love them dearly. I will pray for you. Al

 

I think it is anxiety - where your mind just won't shut down. You think about too much when you are supposed to be resting.
You know I had this problem a lot after the loss of a relationship years ago - every night i would only sleep a couple hours. Long after I still had the issue, but just not as bad; maybe only twice a week. Doctors blamed it on too much heavy food, too much alcohol, not enough exercise, and other stuff. I could never pinpoint the cause, at least up until a few months ago when I was layed off from work.... That was it - work's issues! Ever since then I would sleep well, no matter what I ate or drank or when. I had a job interview one day and the night before I awoke at 3am and could not sleep again.
Maybe I just shouldn't work any more - doctor's orders!

As for greasy food, I think it is okay in moderation. A little alcohol each day to thin the blood some and we have it made!

 

Bryan,

I think you are making great strides. Realizing what is truely important, your family, puts things in perspective. You believe in yourself to fix your car and put it back together. Now its time to believe in yourself to do the same with your life. You have tore it down, understand how it works, and now you are working on getting it put back together. Just like the car, it is a process. Sometimes, slower than what we like, but always look at the progress you have made!

 

Hang in there Bryan! Sounds like you're headed in the right direction. We all have things cropping up with our health, the older we get, lol. Back when we were young, we all did crap we shouldn't have. Just some took it to more extremes than others did. And we never thought what the effects would be when we got older. I preach at my daughter now about taking care of herself, and tell her she better think about the problems she could have when she's older! The voice of experience, lol.

Sometimes things happen that we have no control over, and we can't blame ourselves. Just victims of circumstance, so don't beat yourself up too bad! Keep heading in the right direction, one step at a time. As an old friend used to say all the time, 'little bit... little bit'. Remember, we are here anytime you want to talk! Live, Laugh, and Love!