Well, melancholia can become a longtime thing, if you're not careful. At this stage in my life, I'm more likely to bypass all the sulking for a real, honest-to-goodness cry.

I did that a few months ago. Felt good. I think I had a breakthrough.

xplnyrslf said:

that would take me all day

how about this, society's expectations of me as a mother, and motherhood not living up to what I taught to expect
society's expectations of me as a woman, and my "failure" to be one
society told me that getting an education, getting a job, working hard, paying off a house, getting married and having kids is WHAT ONE DOES and I should now be complete and fulfilled.
etc.

and yes, I would call those expectations "restrictions"
because now I am stuck with it

xplnyrslf said:

that would take me all day

how about this, society's expectations of me as a mother, and motherhood not living up to what I taught to expect
society's expectations of me as a woman, and my "failure" to be one
society told me that getting an education, getting a job, working hard, paying off a house, getting married and having kids is WHAT ONE DOES and I should now be complete and fulfilled.
etc.

and yes, I would call those expectations "restrictions"
because now I am stuck with it

ZombieKitten said:

is it like you've seen all these "expected" things through and now maybe you're frustrated because you're ready to take on some goals of your own design now, but you have all these other commitments to sort out?

ZombieKitten said:

is it like you've seen all these "expected" things through and now maybe you're frustrated because you're ready to take on some goals of your own design now, but you have all these other commitments to sort out?

Anxiety said:

I thought you went to bed....

Anxiety said:

k this kinda sounds like my problem

xplnyrslf said:

i'm just like glenn close jumping out of the bathtub at the end of 'fatal attraction'. just when you thought i'd bought the farm for good, i come screaming out of the bathtub again, all claws and fangs.

heybaby said:

it sounds like my problem in reverse. i think i knocked out a lot of personal goals and dreams in my life, and now i'm at a point where i'm freaked because i never really made any big investments in my life - nothing with money, property, creating a family, etc.

ZombieKitten said:

Do you not want to be married?
Do you not want to be tied down to a job?
Is there something you feel you're missing out on?
Do you not like your house?
Do you want a sex change???
Stay with me, here.....What is it that's bothering you?????

ZombieKitten said:

is it like you've seen all these "expected" things through and now maybe you're frustrated because you're ready to take on some goals of your own design now, but you have all these other commitments to sort out?

xplnyrslf said:

a) I wish I hadn't kind of just gone along with the flow at the time, and just got married cause that was the next step. I'd only had 2 boyfriends before.
b) I LOVE my work, but family commitments are standing in the way right now, I believe creativity is the key to making me feel charged up. My work is creative, being kept from doing it is the source of my frustration.
c) my house is meh
d) no way in hell

ZombieKitten said:

a) Could you imagine life without your husband, and be happy?
b)Hired help. Utilize services available for housekeeping, transportation, laundry, things that aren't necessary for your presense.
c)ok
d)ok
[Edited 10/24/07 23:19pm]

xplnyrslf said:

a) am I happy now? would I be just as unhappy without them?
b) can't afford it

It's food for thought.....

this thread wasn't really about me anyway

ZombieKitten said:

What was the motivation for the topic?

heybaby said:

it sounds like my problem in reverse. i think i knocked out a lot of personal goals and dreams in my life, and now i'm at a point where i'm freaked because i never really made any big investments in my life - nothing with money, property, creating a family, etc.