In case you didn’t read my previous post (archives), I want you all to know you’re more than welcome to share your personal experience of the recession on this blog. Many of you have done so, and I encourage those who haven’t to write your story. This is a way for all of us to connect in our struggles, and to find hope in the reflection and encouragement of others. Take care,
Aaron
I have a good job with a descent amount of security. I work for a growing (despite the recession) suburb of Houston and have not really felt the effects of the economic bust. Unofrtunately I am not here by choice. I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI and am in love with all things Michigan. I want nothing more then to get out of Texas and more specifically Houston, so I can return home, but that seems less and less likely. I feel guilty. I should be happy to have a job, so many people tell me this, but I feel stuck. The recession is preventing me from being where I want to be and doing what I truly want to do and that sucks. Sometimes I wish I were jobless, I feel like that would push me to truly find my calling in life and would allow me to be where I want to be. This is not how I pictured my life.
Hi Aaron
I wanted to come and find you in Chicago since I live in Madison,Wisconsin which isn’t that far away, but I figured that it would be incredibly difficult to find you in such a big city. I didn’t want to write anything, just wanted to meet you. My brother sent me your link after I told him about how I wanted to travel around and document how people were handling the recession but I want to do it through photography. I am unemployed and homeless, but I sort of chose to be homeless. I knew that I would have a hard time finding a job and my lease ended, so I donated most of my personal belongings and decided to put my time and energy into traveling and photographing people and life (something that I have wanted to do for a long time). I actually wanted to volunteer abroad and document my experiencs, but couldn’t find any opportunities. So now I find myself saying “what the f*ck am I doing?” about 20 times a day because I am sleeping/living out of my car, but there are times where I am happy. So maybe the recession will help me because it is forcing me to finally get out and experience the world. I wake up early, go to a nearby park and see the sunrise. I end up talking to people more instead of sitting home watching television. So, I want to think that the recession is helping me out in a way. I am trying not to worry about what may or may not happen in the future. I am considering myself soooo lucky right now because I am aware of how many people have been struggling to survive and hold on to the little that they have. Sorry, I’m rambling.
I think that you are doing a great thing and I wish you the best of luck in that contest.