Thank you for the article. I've been questioning my existence ever since I became disabled. I liked working even though I might not have liked the job I had at the time. I have felt lost without being part of the work force. It's good to know that I am not alone.

can you look beyond society and think about All The Work History.
Wife, Caretaker, Mother, Teacher, Advocate, Nurse ...these are just a few of the roles I can see in your life...think Jenn, just because you don't work at a job, think of the Value your were and Are to those who's lives you've touched!

I went through a period of time after a major manic episode where I was so tranquillized that I could not work. In addition to feeling a sense of loss from no longer being on top of the world I also felt a sense purposeless. My wife reminded me and reminds me still as I continue to transition that my worth as a husband and caregiver are priceless. She works full time.

It's taken several years to piece things together and find what works for me in terms of employment, but learning about myself this way has added it's own kind of purpose.

I wonder what my purpose may be in the future knowing that my sense of purpose has changed constantly as far back as I can tell. I too look for signs to help me when my own understanding fails. I rely greatly on the help of others.

I think this is an issue many of us struggle with I know I certainly do! Even when I worked full time I felt somewhat like a fraud because I was always battling depression and felt like I was living a double life. All my life I have had to do a day job because underneath I am an artist so I really felt like I was living a double life!

Job market being what it is jobs are very hard to find that allow me to keep my sanity so I have been living on SSDI for a good long while. So what do I say to people who ask "What do you do?"

I tell them I have my own eBay biz which is not a lie I sell stuff on eBay and I spend a lot of time quilting. I'm married to a great guy I met later in life and I have somewhat of a life in spite of all of my struggling....I still sometimes feel like a fraud but I have a bunch of folks I run into who went to my DBSA group who all claim I kept them from suicide...I'm not sure about that but I'll take the praise and run!

I used to questioning j my purpose quite often. Now I'm just roll with it

When I read this article, the meaning I got was no matter what you 'do' in life do 'it' with passion and with purpose...the best you can...When society says 'job' I believe we Do A Job everyday we live, how can you see your 'job' it can be as small as a smile on your face which creates a smile on someone else's face. Our purpose is Everything while we are alive if 'it' has meaning to us...each day as Frankel, we push through the major illness we have, I think this shows resilience, and purpose to those around us...despite them not walking in our shoes...the Largest message was "Don't Give Up' "Don't feel Sorry for yourself, accept the life challenges, learn from them, and then move your life towards something of meaning...Yes, Yes, to renewal of/changes every day of different purposes, and I believe people come into our lives to teach, and we teach them life lessons...we are social beings and need people...our isolation is a symptom of bp illness....recreating and self exploration, acceptance and then putting our best foot forward...while the acceptance part is for those days where we do little...give Credit For Doing/Accomplishing Anything...from taking meds, to creating some out of the world 'thing' which brings joy. Everyone wears a mask...I know I do, protection of self, and then the number of 'hats' one wears I believe is the area of purpose.... the other message in the article was to not give up, accept your challenges with grace, not feeling sorry for yourself, make goals..no matter how small to live a life, your best life each day, no matter the degree of the 'best'

This is a really great article mlr0......TY.....xo