Stressed Out Life

Someday people will figure out that most of the stresses in life are self-inflicted.  Of course, there are some circumstances that are beyond our control but for the most part we bring it on ourselves. 

I know a woman who is freaking out on so many levels.  The stresses are now starting to cause physical symptoms like pain in the body and digestive issues.  Why is she freaked out?  Here's why.  She just HAD to send her kids to the most expensive colleges right out of high school.  The local junior college just was not good enough.  One kid wants to be a school teacher.  Great.  If you're looking for your ROI (return on investment) sending your kid to a super expensive private school to get a teaching degree that can be obtained at a less expensive public university is not a smart financial decision.  Odds of getting hired (the ultimate goal, right?) are the same as there is a shortage of teachers because the pay is not that great for the amount of babysitting/parenting required and all the bureaucratic @#%! that goes along with it. 

The other kid is also going to a private school in another state to obtain a degree that he could get locally.  I can't remember exactly what he is studying, but I guess my point is that don't send your kids off to expensive schools and then complain about how you don't have any money. 

To add fuel to the fire, this woman is running a side business to pay for her kids' college and it's not going so well.  There is a serious cash flow issue going on.  Clients owe her money and they are not paying.  It's the standard "I look good on paper, but my bank account is empty" scenario.  You could have zillions in receivables, but you can't pay your bills with other people's promises to pay you.  Even big banks have made that mistake.  If you're lucky, you can get a loan on your receivables but that's hard to do when the side business itself was set up half-ass to begin with with no legitimate tax records or licenses. 

One more for this stinking pile of poo.  She has been having an affair for the past 6 years and now it's time for her to make a decision.  She's been stringing this guy along for years and now he wants either all in or all out.  He wants her to s*** or get off the pot.  It's decision time and she's freaking.  I suppose she could stay where she's at and keep things as they are, but then she can't be pissed if boyfriend decides to date others, or be pissed if she finds out her husband is doing the same thing she is.  I don't know if toning it down with the boyfriend by being "just friends" and getting together occasionally for coffee so each of them can move on and live their lives is an option for them as I'm too far removed from the details of the relationship.  I would never chime in on such private matters, anyway.  I don't know either of them well enough to do so. 

Goodness gracious...my life is so boring and uncomplicated in comparison.  

I guess my point is, as I wrote at the beginning, is that all of this financial and relationship stress is self-inflicted.  It's ego getting the best of her.