Thoughts of 2013 and hope for 2014.

As I reflect back on this year I would have to say it was a bad year for a number of reasons.

For myself the list is as follows:

1. No job since June 2012
2. Unemployment ran out mid October 2013
3. Numerous interviews with disappointing results
4. Extreme stress leading to constant illness
5. Feelings of hopelessness
6. Anger at current situation
7. Money problems
8. Family problems
9. Stuck in house when weather is cold and nasty
10. Boredom

I am sure many of you are feeling the same thing.

It is hard not working. Sure the first six months seem okay.

Your getting unemployment

and for me it meant working

for 20 years and now home

so I can concentrate on things I

couldn't do when I worked.

You know the drill.

Clean out the closets.

Get rid of unnecessary paperwork.

Give the house a good cleaning.

Devout more time to a hobby.

Mine being writing.

Spend quality time with family,

grandchildren, husband etc.

But as you know

those six months fly by and

soon its winter.

That's when the winter blues get to you.

Too cold to go outside.

Then the unemployment runs out.

Now there is no money.

I've never stopped looking for work.

I just can't find any.

Soon stress from life comes a factor.

Stress does lead to physical

and mental sickness.

I know.

Since March of 2013 I had

four emergency room visits.

One three day hospitalization.

Thank God for charitable care.

After all that I was diagnosed with

Severe Anxiety Disorder.

Guess life does that to you.

My husband is my life,

my love,

my rock.

But I feel terrible after 20 years

not contributing to the income.

I feel terrible putting all the burden

on him.

Then there is stress from other

family members.

When you cannot handle your own stress,

how can you handle others?

Now the news tells us that 3.3 million

people at the end of this year have

lost their unemployment.

Some of which were only on it six months.

I live in New Jersey and today the news

said 79,000 people are without benefits.

We most certainly will fall back into

a recession.

With recession causes depression,

stress and the unknown of where to

get money to buy food,

pay rent/mortgage,

utilities bills and others.

This year has been the worst for many.

I am sure you will agree.

I am looking forward to saying

Goodbye to 2013.

Could the old myth of the number 13

hold so true?

So now we enter the New Year 2014.

With it brings uncertainty.

Will unemployment be extended?

Congress is still on vacation.

The republicans want to know

where the money to extend

will come from.

What will happen to the millions

of people like me who still

have no jobs?

Will we get evicted, foreclosed on?

Of course more will get sick

physically and mentally.

I mean who wouldn't?

Our country helps so many

other countries.

How about helping your own?

My husband is a good man.

My family has their own troubles,

and yet I can't help anyone.

I want to work and not sit at home.

The job market is tough and now it

will get tougher because there are

more people out of work.

I've heard the longer you are out of

work the harder it gets.

Well I've been out of work for

18 months. So I would have to

say this statement is true.

I hope 2014 brings hope,

joy, happiness and health

to all of us.

However the uncertainty of what's to come

can be scary.

I just hope it was that number 13.

That 14 will be a better year

for all of us.

I guess we will have to wait

and see.