Big hug for you Marky.... I'm sorry the manager wasn't more supportive ... Maybe just a bad day
I think it takes a lot of courage to explore a next step you may want to take
Perhaps you could look into writing for an organization that deals with bipolar or mental health disorders.... There are a lot of different associations out there and we learn so much by people who will share their writing skills as well as life experience.... Big squishy hug....xo

thanks Jan! Those are good ideas! I was also thinking about taking a play writing course. I would love to learn how to do that.

Taking a course would be a good way to meet some new people as well.... Can I play the evil queen????... pleeeeze

you can!

Mark it took great courage to speak up and I hope that doesn't deter you from doing it again. I've learned sometimes that initial reactions aren't always indicative of someone's thoughts on things, but maybe we are more sensitive due to our own life experiences with mental health issues.

I love Sun's idea of writing about mental health...you bring so much thought for others when you write! Also a play writing course would be amazing! I'd just like a tiny one liner in a thought-provoking scene hahaha.

You got it!

Keep at it. You can find your place

You are a very talented writer. Wishing you the best....

I subscribe to the notion that an expectation is a premeditated resentment. Works that way for me, anyway. However carefully I research my expectations, Life always has a wicked curve to throw me that leaves me curled in a ball of anxiety.

Still. . . I get bored to meanness when I am not trying new things. Oh, for the love of balance. . .

I seem to have found a balance in letting the dream motivate while I let reality dictate. Example, I had a dream of forging a new friendship with a neighbor I kind of like. I approached her a while back and the encounter unfolded much like you described with your house manager. Reality sucks. I'm keeping it friendly, though. Ya never know what might grow. It's okay if it doesn't grow according to my expectations.

Not sure that ramble has anything to do with anything. . . Just rambling.

thanks BB, Debbalina and arfie!

Good going Mark for reaching out and thinking of a direction you might want to go in!

No everybody is cut out to be a cheerleader Atari e when we might want them to behave in such a fashion...

Keep going! Get a notebook for your back pocket and write something everyday whether you feel like it or not!

Sorry your house manager was not supportive Mark. You are a really nice guy, and it would be good if you got some quality feed back. Keep up with your writing. I agree with SunCloud. Check with maybe volunteer opportunities with various mental health organizations. Here, I tried doing graphic design for various organizations. In my case they accepted, but the projects all lost steam. i.e. they kinda stopped giving me feedback during revisions.

But maybe do a google search for mental health organizations in your area. Then write a nice email introducing yourself. Dunno. If you get a volunteer position as a writer, then you could do it remotely! (via computer and the Internet). Just a thought.

Maybe a volunteer position could lead to an actual payed job down the road. Or at least increase networking opportunities.

Thanks Chris. Really good words of wisdom. Now if the mental health stars align within me. :)

I wouldn't take it personally. Sometimes people get really caught up in what they are doing - I remember being told to "piss off" when I went to ask my manager about something - she very nearly became a CEO of a multi-billion company a few years later..but anyway my take was that she was so worried about the problem she had in front of her that all managerial skills went out the window. However, it doesn't make working for that kind of person any easier so I agree with others to look elsewhere.

But kudos to you for making the attempt to try and talk to her and understand her perspective.

Thanks Mark!