Serious Question: post hunt/vacation letdown and depression

[Wallydeuce]

Sorry- Gus Grissom

I humbly stand corrected.

 

[Fullquiver]

It's not that I never had those types of feelings. It's just that I don't have them anymore. I've found contentment in my life and peace with pretty much all my days.

I couldn't have always made this statement but after life altering brain cancer. Several associated health issues, teaching in several African nations for 5-8 month stints working at prison ministry and as an addiction counselor. I find life has its ups down and sideways.

It's good to be here, to be clear and in this moment. Having a wonder, every day for every opportunity. To watch the oriole fly by to see the twinkle in a young boys eye, to absorb the heady aroma of a far off campfire. The smell of fresh cut hay. The sight of the first clouds long absent on the Angolan plain. Even the smells of the open air markets in Freetown I can still smell. The heaviness in the air after a heavy shower or the frailty of the first snowflakes of winter. Sometimes I just sit and watch life around me. My dog or my cat. My wife and her hair falling across her face and the inevitable smile that comes when she sees me watching.

 

[2rocky]

It's not that I never had those types of feelings. It's just that I don't have them anymore. I've found contentment in my life and peace with pretty much all my days.

I couldn't have always made this statement but after life altering brain cancer. Several associated health issues, teaching in several African nations for 5-8 month stints working at prison ministry and as an addiction counselor. I find life has its ups down and sideways.

It's good to be here, to be clear and in this moment. Having a wonder, every day for every opportunity. To watch the oriole fly by to see the twinkle in a young boys eye, to absorb the heady aroma of a far off campfire. The smell of fresh cut hay. The sight of the first clouds long absent on the Angolan plain. Even the smells of the open air markets in Freetown I can still smell. The heaviness in the air after a heavy shower or the frailty of the first snowflakes of winter. Sometimes I just sit and watch life around me. My dog or my cat. My wife and her hair falling across her face and the inevitable smile that comes when she sees me watching.

You, my friend have mastered the skill of gratefulness. I'm still working on it. I'm thinking that's where I need to focus my energy.

 

[Baerman]

I'm not this way but my wife is like this. Even on Sundays...and she is a stay at home mom. Which in many ways is harder than work. I try to understand. For some sad reason, I'm usually ready to get back to work and regular life.

 

[thusby]

This is directly related to my like/dislike of my current working situation. If I am in a bad role, I get depressed. If I am in a decent role, its not so bad.

 

[Slate]

I’m always plotting and planning my next adventure. This is my first year throwing a fishing trip into the mix. Packing for Costa Rica for a week of fishing. Spring time I visit my property in Kansas. Visit with friends, check cameras, shed hunt. In the summer I work a lot to save for hunts and use my time off for the fall. Always gives me something to look forward to. During the summer I spend a lot of time hiking with the hunting mindset of staying in shape for the next great adventure. I enjoy my job but, I spend most days day dreaming about hunting. I have a great wife that I vacation with and enjoy quality time at home. Oh yeah I have a couple cool cats too. I dream about hunting Nightly and day dream about it daily.

 

[Wildabeest]

For me, the end of one season is the beginning of the next. The anticipation of applying for tags, seeing what I get, scouting new places throughout the year, etc, is all part of the experience. It never stops, and that anticipation motivates me to be outdoors even when sitting on the couch may seem like the easier thing in any given moment.

Being an empty nester with no other obligations besides work makes that a more viable thing for me than folks with young kids, busy lives etc. At this point in my life, though, I’m blessed to be able to do what I want. And that is being outdoors enjoying the vastness of our public lands.

 

[C17loadclear]

I was in this boat a few years ago. Wife and I decided to pay off all of our debt and retire as early as possible.

We also decided to move back out west even though financially staying in the south was the smart move.

Life is a balancing act for sure but you only go around once..

 

[tzone]

Easier said than done. This type of comment simplifies the complexity of the responsibilities of life’s commitments. There is a sliding scale of pay/joy that influence job opportunities for everyone individually. Very few people find the sweet spot. Simply stating “get a new job that you like” is not helpful advice.

There is no time better than now to find a job you enjoy more than what you do.