After nine months working in a shipping/receiving section at a manufacturing job, I happen to see my bosses give a young man a tour of the place while I was getting the last of their parts cleaned off. I knew then my time was over and by end of the next day (which was a Friday) I was in the boss's office being told despite my hard work my work performance there didn't fit with what they needed. Honestly, I didn't blame them and I was actually relieved they fired me because I was ready to quit multiple times.

These nine months had me deal with a workplace that didn't take Covid-19 seriously and honestly I never did fit in with the people there or their vibe. They've worked in this company for 30 years where I was trying to reinvent myself yet again because I needed a job so I can help keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. They've done one job all their life, but me...constantly inventing myself out of necessity instead of finding a job that fit my strengths. Yet again, here I am every day going through Indeed.com or the state employment site hoping that my next job is one I can vibe in and do well.

My former boss explained it wasn't because I'm not a hard worker or any disciplinary issues with me. He really hated to see me go. It just doesn't help when you have ADHD and the job you work requires far more than I have a hard time giving especially one that isn't something that I am interested in or fits who I am.

I guess I am writing this because I've been following this Reddit group now for over a month and a lot of the stories I read, the mistreatment (be it pay, demands by management and the way employees treat their workers) really makes it clear to me that I've approached employment all wrong. Maybe if I had the chance to work in places that offered a living wage, benefits that are affordable not tied to my workplace, and management that treats their workers like human beings and not peons maybe things could be a bit better.

My ADHD screams out "I'm lazy" which is farthest from the truth because when the task is explained well and I am able to do it I can outwork anyone. But now that I am looking for a job, and now that I have read the stories here in this subreddit group, I'm starting to ask questions about my approach to finding work. Am I just trying to find a job because we need to survive or do I want a place where I can thrive and be paid to live well?

Yes, there are knuckleheads working that deserve to be fired; I wonder now are those fired these days are because they rebel against a system that is soul-draining and time-stealing? Are they just the wrong fit for the wrong job? Maybe getting fired (like me) is a relief and not a detriment to who they are as people. These are the things I'm asking myself as I take a day and a break to just figure out what should be my path going on.

I'm 56 y.o.

I've worked since I was 19 y.o. and outside of service in the military I've worked in various areas and fields all my life. I know I don't fit the bill as to why people are here in this group, but I think I know it may be too late for me to actually see the fundamental change needed in the workplace and in our nation as a whole. However, if you don't mind a fired, middle-aged, job seeking, and seeker of my dream job standing alongside each and every one of you to demand change for workers of the now and the not yet I'm here to be with you in the fight.