Letters to the Editor
justjane
Published Letters: 4 Editor's Choice: 1
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this is so timely
[Read the article: If the pants don't fit ...]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I came home Saturday in tears after wasting 2 hours at the d**n mall trying - and failing - to buy pants. Everything currently in my closet is about 1-2 inches too short and at least 3 years old. I fail to understand how the market is "working" when I have money to spend, the desire to spend it, but I can't find the right product. I'm still so frustrated by Saturday's experience I could just scream.
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Explore Policy
[Read the article: I don't want to be a doctor!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]LW: You mentioned an interest in policy and helping people. That is - kind of - what I do. I have been doing public policy work in nonprofits almost since graduating undergraduate. I majored in political science and minored in English. My coworkers have a rich variety of backgrounds, including some disaffected lawyers. The pay is adequate, not great, but I'm using my skills and affinities and it's been good. I have loved it for a long time, am working toward a master's in political science, but recently have gotten bored, am not sure where to go next so... I'm applying for the Peace Corps! At the ripe ol' age of 36.
I don't have any advice for talking to your parents, but I can say: your undergrad degree doesn't matter that much. Majoring in pre-law isn't a commitment to attend law school. Just get a degree. Also, your whole life path is NOT determined, necessarily, in college. The average American today has something like 7-9 CAREER changes, and umpteen-gazillion job changes. So take it easy on yourself, remember to have some fun along the way, and relax. You can't control the future, although it's nice to plan for it, and the best thing you can do for yourself is learn to roll with the changes and honor yourself. And - I'd suggest some counseling. If you're having panic attacks and crying fits, you may have some bigger stuff going on. Check your school's health center to see if there's someone who can help you figure out all this stuff.
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we're all just slaves to our husbands and sex drives
[Read the article: Voting for Clinton is like choosing a chick flick?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I can't decide if that's more or less offensive than the pundit I heard on the radio this week arguing that women are voting for Obama because they think he's hawt. It was a woman - actually a spokesperson for the Clinton campaign. I don't see how she was helping her cause either - insult women into voting for the female candidate?! What?!
Maybe (shocking thought here!) the women who are voting for Obama think he's the best candidate!
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Bravo, Cary!
[Read the article: I need a new dream]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]LW, my heart goes out to you.
And Cary, you nailed it. There is all sorts of good, useful advice in the letters here, but first you need to allow yourself to grieve. And don't put timelines on when you "should" move on or figure out next steps. It will happen when it's right for you, and then maybe you can revisit some of the excellent ideas in these letters and see what feels right.
The Pema Chodron book is an excellent suggestion; another resource that has helped me through challenging times is "Dark Nights of the Soul," by Thomas Moore. Wonderful stuff.
Take care of yourself.