Turned 40 & Started career

So I just turned 40 April 20th and I also set up a new career as a pet stylist. At first I thought who starts a career at forty, man I am way behind. Then I read the message above and I felt like it is ok I am not behind I am right where I am supposed to be in my life. I may not be where most people my age are but the fact that I am here at all is nothing short of a miracle, multiple miracles actually. I have been in inpatient hospitals multiple times over the past 12 years and most of the stays were due to suicide attempts or suicidal ideation. My husband, and family have been the only reason I have made it this far. I am so grateful for everything they have done to get me to the point where I am actually able to even think about having a job or even attempt to start a career.

So even though I am just getting started I am really ahead of the game considering my mental illness. I can hold my head up high considering how much work it took me to get where I am today. In itself it has been my career surviving thus far. I hope if you are reading this and you suffer from mental illness that you can see it’s not where are but where you’ve been and where you are going that determine success in life. . You are right where you are supposed to be. Don’t judge yourself by comparing yourself to other people that haven’t been where you have been. It’s not a competition and everyone has their own battles to fight ours are just more complex than others. So keep fighting the battle and remember you will get where you are going in your own time. Pat yourselves on the back for the times you have survived to fight another day. Some people never make it that far.