Starting over---Careers

[mod93dirt]

This is probably going to be log winded and maybe a bit of rambling, so please bear with me.

I have been off work for almost three months now due to severe back problems and pain. But I had an 8am Dr appt yesterday and he finally cleared me to go back to work and I was there by 9:30. Having been back to work for two days has now confirmed what I have been thinking the whole time that I was off. I do not enjoy my job anymore. I have been in the same line of work(bodywork on cars) for 12 yrs now, pretty much since I started my working life other than a few other odd jobs when I got out of high school. In my early years, I truly really did enjoy my job, and got personal satisfaction out of it. But for the last year or so probably, I have woken up every morning wishing that I didn't have to go to work that day. Not coincedentally, that was about the time that my back pain started. And it is not a matter of my work enviroment either, as the shop that I have worked at now for 4 yrs is the best I have ever been at. Some of my best friends that I now have I have met through this employer. Everyone at work gets along great, and there is really no one that I dislike at my work from the head boss all the way down to the floor sweeper. Before anyone new gets hired, mngmt. asks everyone in the shop what they think about that person before they will hire anyone new on.  We truly have a family atmosphere at this shop. Almost every weekend someone from the shop will have a gathering at their house, and nearly everyone from work will show up and hang out together.

I believe that a large part of me feeling the way I do has to do to the physical aspect of my job. I am not opposed to or afraid of doing hard work, but I am only 32 yrs old and consider myself to be in fairly decent physical shape. But I work with or have worked with too many body men or mechanics who at 40-50 yrs old can barely get around and walk. Three people at the shop I work at now have already had to have back surgeries. I have had spinal injections recently which have helped immensely, but the next step for my issues involves surgery, which I want to avoid at all costs if I can. Most of the older bodymen I have worked with, either their back or knees are shot. With the issues I am already having with my back at 32yo, I DO NOT want to be that 50 yr old bodyman who hurts every single day and can barely get around.

I am at a crossroads now as I feel that I am still young enough that I could be able to start a new line of work, but I am quickly running out of time if I want to change professions. If I stick with what I have too much longer, I dont think that there is any way that I could get out. The older bodymen I work with are pretty much stuck with what they have. My issue is with having to start over again with a lower level of wages. I realize that I maybe could get a new job, and in maybe 10yrs be making the same money that I am now, but dont know if I could take that cut for that long.  I feel that I make pretty darn good money for the work that I do. I have been doing this for 12yrs, and every single year I feel my work and knowledge has improved and I have made more money than the previous year. Not to brag but I consider myself pretty smart, and I have the high school test scores to back it up, but without a college degree, I know it is hard to get a good paying job. And even with that said, I have friends from high School with college degrees that I make more money than they do.

After all this rambling what I am really wondering is if anyone at my age(32) or older has completely changed their careers and had it work out for them. Thankfully I have an amazing wife who is fully supportive of me no matter what I do. She tells me if I want to do something different, then I should go for it. I am just apprehensive as I know I can continue in my current line of work and make a good living for my family even though it is not what I want to do anymore. Providing for my family is my number one priority, but at the same time I would like to be happy when I go to work, and also not worry about being crippled up 20 yrs from now.

Anyone here have any advice to throw my way. I have discussed this issue with some of my co-workers, and all of my family as well. Just thought I would throw this out here to try and get all the opinions that I can. Thanks.

Brandon

[Hogsnatchers]

Hey I think your where I was a few months ago I'm not 32 but I was a tech for ford and kept looking at the guys in the shop and decided the same thing you did I did not want to be broke down at ar 40-50. It may not be what your looking for and you may want to get out of it completely but there are options for your skill set. One would be try and look at a service advisor position at the shops around the pay is usually as good or better than the techs. Another would be looking into the insurance side of the business, with your experience you could be an adjuster real easy and that pays well to just a few ideas, may not be what your lookin for but I figure I would throw it out there.

[bob]

Brandon , Ive been at the same place also many times in my life , I bet body work is hard on ya , but try concrete work for 20 years , you need to get right in your mind and dont let your pain get you down and also confess on how good you feel not how you are broke down or gonna be broken down , I also agree with hogsnatchers on the other options, I dont like work either but there no choice , I really wish the best for you and your family , everyone gets old  dont let that hold you up at all brandon , you can do anything you set your mind to ,

[matt_aggie04]

I know very few people that are able to get up everyday and do something they love or at the least truly enjoy.  Ive found that most people do what they can tolerate and grind away at that for about 30 years all the while disliking what they do only because it affords them the opportunity to do what they love and provides for their family.  It is a rich man that is able to wake up everyday and do what he loves and make a living doing it.

[UNDERDOG]

I know very few people that are able to get up everyday and do something they love or at the least truly enjoy.  Ive found that most people do what they can tolerate and grind away at that for about 30 years all the while disliking what they do only because it affords them the opportunity to do what they love and provides for their family.  It is a rich man that is able to wake up everyday and do what he loves and make a living doing it.

Very correct......IMO

[RyanTBH]

I know very few people that are able to get up everyday and do something they love or at the least truly enjoy.  Ive found that most people do what they can tolerate and grind away at that for about 30 years all the while disliking what they do only because it affords them the opportunity to do what they love and provides for their family.  It is a rich man that is able to wake up everyday and do what he loves and make a living doing it.

x2! I Couldn't have said it better myself! To be able to do what you love, and make a living doing it used to be the American Dream! Now it's check to check man! Good luck to you and your family.

[chads7376]

I am a firm believer that its never too late to change careers. You just got to want it bad enough. I am 36 and have totally changed careers twice in my life. Now I have never had to take a pay cut to do this because I worked on my new career path prior to quiting my current job both times.

Now as far as being completely happy and looking forward to going to work everyday.... I wish that were the case.. but its definitely bearable. I'd still like to win the lottery and be a hunting and fishing bum. LOL.

[dwhd93]

My dad worked for tdcj(Texas department of criminal Justice) for 25 years. He started workin there when he was 19 and he got full retirement when he was 44 he was a prison guard for em. And now he's a truck driver makin top pay for the company he's workin for and its lookin like he's about to get a supervisor position and he's only been drivin for 7 years. So in answer to your question. No I don't think its to late to completely switch careers but that's just my .02

[charles]

 Brandon, I have been in the same boat for 14yrs. I statred out in field artillery in 97, did that for 6yrs and moved onto to helicopter mechanic. I did that for 8yrs and was gonna move onto heavy wheel mechanic, but that has fallen through as of now. My back is in the same boat too. I broke in on an air assualt mission my last tour in iraq. According to the army doc and the VA, I need surgery, but i would trust the worst animal vet before letting the VA butchers touch me. I am having to do the same thing and find a new career. I would like to get into law enforcement, but dont have the money to tide me over till I complete the academy even with my gi bill. good luck to you, and best of wishes. oh, maybe a degree in something may help.

[txsteve85]

To find what you seek in the road of life..leave no stone unturned. It's never too late to make a change! Good luck!

[dub]

Charles the sugeons at the VA Houston are the same ones at the medical center. They are the best surgeons. I hate the VA but the surgeons are the best. They do rotations through the hospitals and the Houston VA is part of the Houston Medical Center as far as surgeons. The rest of the doctors suck and there are a few I would not take a stray dog to. But that is why the surgery clinics are only one day a week because the other days they are at the big hospitals.

[dub]

I am in the same boat and starting over. I think it was Oprah that said the secret of being successful is doing what you love. She is fill of crap. If I had a job that made me one of the richest people I would sure love my job too. I am being forced to take a career I would never want. The only job that would be doing what I love is hunting and it does not pay enough. You can easily try to work for insurance companies in many ways. An adjuster or fraud department sound like they are something you can do. You may have to go to school but it is a related industry.

[Amokabs]

Charles, Dub beat me to it. I'm in Birmingham, and same is true as Dub stated in Houston. The University Docs work at the VA. In fact the two hospitals are connected with walkways. Check the list of VA neuro and orthopedic surgeons then see if any also are staff at the University hospital or other local hospitals in your area

[charles]

 dub, my dad went to the houston va for his heart surgery and he had a raghead as a surgen, the doc i have for my primary care phasician is a rag too. I didnt get deployed to fight them just to have 1 try to provide health care or operate on me. I would rather spend the rest of my life in pain than take the chance and have 1 of them operate on me. I was shot on nearly every air assualt mission and got hit 3 times by a bunch of rags. I dont like my tax money paying for their medical schooling and their wages to now treat me. Its a shame as an american, its hard to get a grant or loan for schooling or business but some illegal can get it all!

[TexasLacy]

Charles, I completely understand that.  For that same reason, I use private healthcare.  But, for what it is worth, and it took quite a few sessions for me to realize this, we aren't there anymore.  Things are different here, and in so many ways.  And it is hard for anyone to understand how several months time can continue to dictate years of your life.  I'm not one to tell you your business, because I haven't lived your life.  But for me, things got easier after having some realizations.  They will give you a therapy counseling there at the VA in Houston.  And, if you ask, they are completely understanding if you want a white American to be the one evaluating you.  Only be careful dealing with them in what you say.  They seem to want to diagnose everyone with PTSD.  And, that (diagnosis alone) in itself is a pain in the butt to deal with.

Also, if you ever need to vent or want to talk to someone that knows where you are coming from and won't pass judgement, just pm me brother

[charles]

Charles, I completely understand that.  For that same reason, I use private healthcare.  But, for what it is worth, and it took quite a few sessions for me to realize this, we aren't there anymore.  Things are different here, and in so many ways.  And it is hard for anyone to understand how several months time can continue to dictate years of your life.  I'm not one to tell you your business, because I haven't lived your life.  But for me, things got easier after having some realizations.  They will give you a therapy counseling there at the VA in Houston.  And, if you ask, they are completely understanding if you want a white American to be the one evaluating you.  Only be careful dealing with them in what you say.  They seem to want to diagnose everyone with PTSD.  And, that (diagnosis alone) in itself is a pain in the butt to deal with.

Also, if you ever need to vent or want to talk to someone that knows where you are coming from and won't pass judgement, just pm me brother

 Much obliged to you texaslacy. Why should i be carefull of what I say? iv already been diagnosed with PTSD. I dont mind being diag with that, its drawing me 30% of my 60% rating which I earned every % of it. I dont trust the rags, our government pays them for schooling, now their wages just to possible help kill americans with legal drugs or turn us all into passifist zombies to be controled by the government to render us useless when it come times for the revolution.

[Amokabs]

Real sorry for your dad's experience, but that's what we all yave to look forward to. No one is training to be heart surgeons. Over half the spots for training heart surgeons go unfilled every year. So guess who is training? You guessed it! Importing physicians from middle east to fill some of the slots. But no one wants to go into debt you'll neve r be able to repay, open yourself to lawsuits from every lowlife with a lottery mentality, pay 90,000$ a year for malpractice insurance and get paid less for for doing someone's coronary's than a dentist gets for a full mouth extraction. The best and the brightest are going into other fields

[ROCKIN ROO HOG DOGS]

My dad started hid body shop when he was 17 years old,hes been at it for 40 years and hates every minute of it,his knees were shoy many moons ago and both required surgery,i cant remember how many nights i watched him lay on the couch in agony over his back,if you feel deep down that it could affect you that badly in the future then you really should try to find something a little more body friendly,good luck to you in any venture you take on. You are very lucky to have a supportive wife that will back you whatever you choose.

[TexasLacy]

Case in point man, we are two diff people. I did mind being diagnosed.  I hardly tell people I meet about my service, and I come up with excuses for the scars when I'm wearing board shorts or am swimming.  For me, it was like admitting a weakness accepting the diagnosis, and in every aspect of my life, I strive to show nothing but strength and power.  Getting diagnosed was like not being strong enough to deal with the mental aspect of everything, and admitting it.  

[Eric]

-48 Day to the Work You Love
-Fired to Hired
-The Power of Who
-Quitter

I know very few people that are able to get up everyday and do something they love or at the least truly enjoy.  Ive found that most people do what they can tolerate and grind away at that for about 30 years all the while disliking what they do only because it affords them the opportunity to do what they love and provides for their family.  It is a rich man that is able to wake up everyday and do what he loves and make a living doing it.

Damn Matt..... thats depressing. I truely enjoy my job(s).