Comments on: Don't wait until you bottom out to make a big change

By: Alan Wilensky

Alan Wilensky — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:04:43 +0000

Is it possible that the post was written in 2003 and is getting comments in 2009?

BTW, dear, you broke the mold with the last post on agriculture and clannism.

I am so your advocate – if you need…anything.

By: mariane

mariane — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:51:14 +0000

well, Tank

a very male response:)

if you had taken the time to read the whole article instead of buzzing out before the finish and then spend a lot of time writing a reply unrelated to the content and basically making a fool of yourself you would have found she did just that, isn't it… which was the whole point about the story…

By: Tank

Tank — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:12:57 +0000

I lost interest in this article after you wrote "threw pieces of the inside of my car into a ditch. Then I went to Denny’s and ate three pieces of pie." This is such a female response to problem solving.

Don't like what's happening to your life? Change it!!! Don't whine and moan about it.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:51:38 +0000

I can relate to your two hour commute story. I have been doing the same type of commute in S. Fla for 12 years now. I can tell you almost by name every new tree planted along the turnpike as well as every new single family community. I have gone thru three cars and am currently on my fourth (a prius have to love the ~50mpg). During one of my commutes I speant some time calculating the miles I have traveled over those years, and it is astounding to know that I could have gone to the moon and back and actually be well on the way to the moon again. I still enjoy both my job and more importantly where I live (close to family and friends). While someday I may move (my job closer to where I live not the other way around)I continue to enjoy my commute. One of the good things often overlooked is my commute affords me the opportunity to leave all my work stress behind and not bring it home to my wife. A friend once said "boy you must know the meaning of life" I'm not sure about that but one thing I do know is this type of commute is not for everyone, actually let me repharse it is not for normal people.

By: lcmotorist

lcmotorist — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:15:23 +0000

I can relate to bottoming out at a job. In my younger adult days I once quit a job with no other job firmly lined up and no idea how I was going to make it, but things worked out in the end. I just couldn't take working there anymore.

As for the effect of a long commute, I agree that it can take a serious toll on a person. I live in a distant suburb of Chicago and I've read articles about Chicagoans with ridiculously long commutes. My coworkers leave home long before dawn just to get to work by 8am.

My commute has swelled to an hour and fifteen minutes in the morning. Fortunately, I can also take the Metra commuter rail. Although the total commute is still one hour via the train, it beats driving drowsy.

By: Andrew Weaver

Andrew Weaver — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 23:05:21 +0000

Very, very good advice. I learned this the hard way too. I was working at Wal-Mart, young, and stupid. I was having difficulties paying bills and not making any money at all. I knew I wanted something more, that I could be much more than just a manager in retail, but searching for a new job seemed difficult and scary. One day, after stressing over one too many crazy customers I ran into a lady whom I had worked with there briefly. She had moved on to a much better career after college and was doing quite well. She saw me checking at a register (we were really busy, and I was trying to "lead by my example") and went through my line. First thing out of her mouth was, "What in the world are you still doing here… and checking?!? You are better than this!" In two weeks I was suddenly turning in my two weeks because she had given me an opportunity to work where she was. Now, I have a career and have more than tripled what I made there. Everything has continued to improve since. Looking back, why I didn't just take the leap before is beyond me.

By: David

David — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 01:23:25 +0000

I used to have a two hour commute (one way) myself (between Beloit, Wis. and Waukegan, Il.). I can sympathize – though I disagree about books on tape.

For me, books on tape (or CD) was the only thing that made the drive palatable. The other thing that probably saved me from an experience like yours is I didn't have to fight traffic – the traffic was always flowing – and for a good portion of the drive, it was minimal even at busy times.

I'm glad now that I'm back to a 1 hour commute (one way) and am looking at houses to shorten it.

By: mary

mary — Tue, 08 May 2007 20:49:23 +0000

well, this has given me lot of encouragement.I loved it.Great article.

By: Geena

Geena — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:24:43 +0000

great article! I needed to read this. I have been with the same company for 15 years and I can't take it any more! How ever the job is close to home and the schedule is good and the money is great. People looking in think I am crazy for wanting out! I earned my BS and Master in this field and now I don't know which dierction to go and I can feel the botton and I am afraid.

By: Samuel Tan

Samuel Tan — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:40:14 +0000

Thanks very much for your very helpful article. I am currently in the same kind of situation as you described. Its definitely bad to "bottom out". Like the same goes: I you boil a frog very gradually, it won't attempt to jump out".