The One With...

Growing up is hard to do, especially in this economic climate.

I hate to admit it but, monetarily on a monthly basis, I was better off on benefits. Now before we all run for a pitchfork and hunt down a local "dole dweller" hear me out. I am by no means saying benefits are too high, wages are far too low below the cost of living. I strongly believe instead of demonising the underclass, we should try to ease the burden for the working poor. We could cap rent prices so people could actually leave home and spread their wings, we could drive down petrol and travel prices so people could take jobs further away from home, giving people more access to potential work, we could stop letting utility companies screw us for commodities we must have.

I currently work 9 - 4 in a respectable organisation and they bend over backwards to accommodate me, it is stellar but with a 2 hour commute it's not easy.
I have no way of moving as property prices have skyrocketed, along with utilities, council tax and the general cost of running a household. Some days, when the wages come in and fly back out again I wonder why I bother.

It's revolting how the government believe that by poking the "strivers" with the jealousy stick and pointing out that a very small amount of people on benefits can live the high life, they can then drive down benefits and make us thankful for the meagre amount we're left with.

It's not a race to the bottom.

When you see another story splashed across the papers about a mother of so many that has everything in the world or the "scrounging" disabled people who get "free" cars, please redirect your anger to those who deserve it. The bankers, the politicians, the business bods at the top of the food chain, the buy to let crowd who line their pockets by providing over priced, shoddy accommodation and the rest of the "I'm alright Jack, sod you" crowd.

Once upon a time people grew up, got older and plodded along nicely... now we stagnate and suffocate. How long will you keep letting this happen?

Fight the good fight.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41273

I have a confession. I am 26 going on 17.

My second confession is I don't like change.
There has been a lot of change in my life recently. I have met a lot of new people, found a new job and for all intents and purposes started my relationship again. I was wrong about change, it's really nice.

I have stopped worrying about everything, I used to worry that my relationship wasn't moving fast enough, I wasn't getting the right job/career/employment I wanted, I hadn't moved into my own place yet, I hadn't married, I hadn't had a baby. Then I just stopped, I feel free.

I realised that I need to stop treating life as a race because what's the reward? The finish line is death. I'd rather be the loser who took the long route, looked at the trees, took in the scenery, sat down and had a little rest than hurtle through and wonder what I'd missed.

The moral here is to slow down, you don't get to rewind.