Karyn I totally agree with you! I say this all the time to anyone who will listen.
Maybe it's because I find myself now at 62 with many challenges. Divorced after 40yrs of marriage which caused huge amounts of financial stress. I have persevered and now after almost 6yrs I have found a new me, well I think I was always there just hidden in the Mom and Wife roll. As women we devote our time to looking after children, ,husbands and parents. Add work and that doesn't leave much time for us. Then when it all changes in the blink of an eye we have to somehow tread water and learn how to be our own person again! It's not easy so I commend you for being a survivor!
The sad thing now is it takes two incomes to live in this world and there are many elderly people barely surviving. I know if we did a poll there would be many seniors going days without food so they can pay the rent. The sad part about this is even if you are healthy your options for employment are lowered by the fact that you are a senior. There is a very large population of seniors that are working and they are quite capable of doing so but the stress of being in this situation takes it's toll.
So I say it's not age but rather the lack of years in front of us. I believe we are strong and because of when we were born we are proud! Too proud to ask for help or to admit we at our age are in this desperate position in life.
Aren't we supposed to be retired now and looking after grandchildren or travelling? Wasn't that how we looked at retirement when we were young? Unfortunately the cost of living jumped to astronomical heights and we find ourselves in this new world where it takes two incomes to live.
It's very sad to say but there are women who have put themselves in abusive relationships just to live another day, settling for a terrible relationship so they can have a roof over their heads.
Sorry but I could go on forever!
I just want you to know it's not your age! You are amazing! You can get through this and your heart is in the right place! You are giving back to society and now it is time it gave to you!