Im Really Tired Of This, This Week...

Rob T wrote in response to Victor's post...

Victor we all have had our struggles in life. My upbringing wasnt as rough as most peoples but it wasnt all roses. At some point we need to understand that our past doesnt need to dictate our future. I was bullied for about 8 years in school and it was one reason I chose to do my senior year of high school online. I know my parents love me, but I didnt grow up hearing that they're proud of me. The only time I remember hearing it was when I told them I passed my CDL on first attempt. I always blamed myself for my parents divorce due to medical issues I had as a kid. From ages 1 to 4 I had a big problem with fever seizures to the point we were on a first name basis with the paramedics from what I hear.

My last one was at grandmas funeral in October 1993 when I was off and on seizing for well over an hour. We never did family vacations, parents couldnt afford daycare in the summer so we were sent 100 miles away to stay with my aunt. After the divorce dad started dating and my now stepmom (that has divorced and remarried him 3 times) gave him the choice her or his kids. He chose her. Dad paid hardly any child support and mom worked her butt off and we barely scraped by. I wanted to play sports but I knew mom couldnt afford it so I made excuses when she encouraged me to try out for the team. It took me a long time to get over it but what good is it to allow my past to dictate what my future is.

I went about a year of no contact with dad for other issues. I recently reached out to him and told him that lifes too short and I may not agree with everything he says or does but its unfair to my kids to prevent them from having a relationship with grandpa. When my daughter was born (october 2018) my mom agreed to drive the 5 hours down here to spend the day with my 2 boys. We even scheduled my wife to have the baby a week early, I offered mom $500 to help with gas, and the missed time at work. She backed out 2 days before the due date because she didnt even ask for the time off instead told me "I didnt ask for it off because I thought I'd have the day off" despite it being 3 days and days she typically works. We didnt have family nearby at the time and that was too short of notice to make other arrangements so my wife had the baby alone while I stayed at home. At first i was upset but what good is it going to do to be angry? Instead of allowing myself to be in a negative place I've used what Ive experienced in my relatively short life to push myself to do better. It also pushes me to make sure my kids have the best life possible.

My childhood may not have been terrible, but it wasnt as good as what i seen for my friends. My wife spent several years as a child witnessing her stepdad beat the daylights out of her mom. She was bullied her entire school years due to weight and its left an impact. Those things among others I'm not willing to post had a negative impact on our relationship but I've helped her get to the point of letting go. One big upside to being an adult is that you're much more easily able to rid yourself of toxic people or environments. That was one thing I loved about when we moved to FL, nobody knew us or our past and we were able to be the people we wanted. Getting rid of Facebook also helped. Everybody tries to paint their lives as perfect and it makes people jealous.

Always remember there are people who are much worse off and going through worse. I'm sure others here that many of us look up to, especially our moderators, had their struggles in life and have been successful business owners. I'm not sure if you've watched Undercover Boss but one thing that most of those CEO's of fortune 500 companies have in common is that they used their life experiences as a way to motivate them to do better.

If you're worried about failing as a truck driver use that to motivate you to become the best truck driver you can. Look at it this way. If you miss the "landing" in a truck you just pull up and try again. Worse case scenario you hit another truck. You will live to see another day. In a plane if you miss the landing you're likely going to have much different results. You'll need to gain more confidence in yourself and your abilities especially if you're going to be a pilot. We all know you can do it you just need to dig deep and believe in yourself my friend. Regarding your past......

I'm not a really religious person but remember God helps those that help themselves. He also knows you're able to overcome the challenges you've faced. What works for me is instead of focusing on what you DON'T have, focus on what you DO have. My childhood wasn't as good as I wish it was but at the end of the day my parents taught us right from wrong, we had a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs.

Priceless response Rob. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Rob T.,

We can't split out human nature from the concrete nature of trucking and it's a variably joyful, or painful, maybe ever fascinating integration of those which plays out here in the forums. Sharing deeply, personally is a precious gift for many recipients and something not all can do, or easily do. Much respect for the sharing of your thoughts now and all the time.

Victor we all have had our struggles in life.....

Rob T. that really, really hit home with me, today has been well rough but with Gods strength and help from my parents and Grandparent and you I look at it as blessed that I still can tarp coils, put 50 bungies and 12 straps on the coils even if it took me all day.

Victor we all have had our struggles in life. My upbringing wasnt as rough as most peoples but it wasnt all roses. At some point we need to understand that our past doesnt need to dictate our future. I was bullied for about 8 years in school and it was one reason I chose to do my senior year of high school online. I know my parents love me, but I didnt grow up hearing that they're proud of me. The only time I remember hearing it was when I told them I passed my CDL on first attempt. I always blamed myself for my parents divorce due to medical issues I had as a kid. From ages 1 to 4 I had a big problem with fever seizures to the point we were on a first name basis with the paramedics from what I hear.

My last one was at grandmas funeral in October 1993 when I was off and on seizing for well over an hour. We never did family vacations, parents couldnt afford daycare in the summer so we were sent 100 miles away to stay with my aunt. After the divorce dad started dating and my now stepmom (that has divorced and remarried him 3 times) gave him the choice her or his kids. He chose her. Dad paid hardly any child support and mom worked her butt off and we barely scraped by. I wanted to play sports but I knew mom couldnt afford it so I made excuses when she encouraged me to try out for the team. It took me a long time to get over it but what good is it to allow my past to dictate what my future is.

I went about a year of no contact with dad for other issues. I recently reached out to him and told him that lifes too short and I may not agree with everything he says or does but its unfair to my kids to prevent them from having a relationship with grandpa. When my daughter was born (october 2018) my mom agreed to drive the 5 hours down here to spend the day with my 2 boys. We even scheduled my wife to have the baby a week early, I offered mom $500 to help with gas, and the missed time at work. She backed out 2 days before the due date because she didnt even ask for the time off instead told me "I didnt ask for it off because I thought I'd have the day off" despite it being 3 days and days she typically works. We didnt have family nearby at the time and that was too short of notice to make other arrangements so my wife had the baby alone while I stayed at home. At first i was upset but what good is it going to do to be angry? Instead of allowing myself to be in a negative place I've used what Ive experienced in my relatively short life to push myself to do better. It also pushes me to make sure my kids have the best life possible.

My childhood may not have been terrible, but it wasnt as good as what i seen for my friends. My wife spent several years as a child witnessing her stepdad beat the daylights out of her mom. She was bullied her entire school years due to weight and its left an impact. Those things among others I'm not willing to post had a negative impact on our relationship but I've helped her get to the point of letting go. One big upside to being an adult is that you're much more easily able to rid yourself of toxic people or environments. That was one thing I loved about when we moved to FL, nobody knew us or our past and we were able to be the people we wanted. Getting rid of Facebook also helped. Everybody tries to paint their lives as perfect and it makes people jealous.

Always remember there are people who are much worse off and going through worse. I'm sure others here that many of us look up to, especially our moderators, had their struggles in life and have been successful business owners. I'm not sure if you've watched Undercover Boss but one thing that most of those CEO's of fortune 500 companies have in common is that they used their life experiences as a way to motivate them to do better.

If you're worried about failing as a truck driver use that to motivate you to become the best truck driver you can. Look at it this way. If you miss the "landing" in a truck you just pull up and try again. Worse case scenario you hit another truck. You will live to see another day. In a plane if you miss the landing you're likely going to have much different results. You'll need to gain more confidence in yourself and your abilities especially if you're going to be a pilot. We all know you can do it you just need to dig deep and believe in yourself my friend. Regarding your past......

I'm not a really religious person but remember God helps those that help themselves. He also knows you're able to overcome the challenges you've faced. What works for me is instead of focusing on what you DON'T have, focus on what you DO have. My childhood wasn't as good as I wish it was but at the end of the day my parents taught us right from wrong, we had a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs.

Wow thats exciting! Do you work for Western Express to I should wonder?

Victor I’ve picked up there at that mud hole many times it’s always fun. I also deliver to that upper Marlboro capital place a lot. I love the wallboard loads. Remember to have them forklifts lift them tarps for you. After I get my bills signed I always ask them if they can lift my tarps for me. Then I’ll meet them at my tarps to help get them on the forks. With these wallboard loads things are always going to go wrong. Eventually you will be in and out quicker than you can show a 30.

I could not agree more, that really showed me that if someone who went through that can push themselves this far like he has, well even though I might bee week and feeble now, I will be stronger in the end and I also am indebted to Old Schools hard love on me cause although it hurt to read and hear, sometimes in the midst of pain and frustration, well thats really what I needed to hear. I am glad that I have a family here that can and does stick up for me, stand with me, cheer me and even rebuke me when I need it. Now if you will adveture with me, take a look at what I am hauling! And I even put the tarp even after 10 or so times trying, I got it up ans over the coil. Im going to Alcoa! I had to get some assistance to bring the tarp even and have enough covering the front of them. Lol. That was a battle but I overcame it. Just took all afternoon to get it done 😂. I can deliver this anytime but its set for 10:00 tomorrow.

Rob T.,

We can't split out human nature from the concrete nature of trucking and it's a variably joyful, or painful, maybe ever fascinating integration of those which plays out here in the forums. Sharing deeply, personally is a precious gift for many recipients and something not all can do, or easily do. Much respect for the sharing of your thoughts now and all the time.

Victor we all have had our struggles in life.....

Haha beats me, I have no idea how that thing got that way. All I know is my weak forarms were not able to turn it. Positive thing is, it got fixed and out of the mud pond and I delivered it. Now I am tackling COILS. Hehe.

How is a glad hand half sitting the wrong way?

My point was there is no wrong position for it, as long as there are two.

Up, down, left or right it makes no difference. They can be facing any angle to attach the air lines.

To get that tarp on there I would roll out some of the tarp on the deck until my roll was much smaller but enough to roll over the three coils. So instead of lifting the entire lumber tarp your only lifting half of it or less. Then while standing on the side of the coils roll out the 10 foot or so of tarp. Then pull it until I got what I needed.

I reckon Packrat I was the one that was not able to figure that out. Which makes sense. Truly I am not left handed person when it comes to airlines. Lol.

My point was there is no wrong position for it, as long as there are two.

Up, down, left or right it makes no difference. They can be facing any angle to attach the air lines.

Victor I’ve picked up there at that mud hole many times it’s always fun. I also deliver to that upper Marlboro capital place a lot. I love the wallboard loads. Remember to have them forklifts lift them tarps for you. After I get my bills signed I always ask them if they can lift my tarps for me. Then I’ll meet them at my tarps to help get them on the forks. With these wallboard loads things are always going to go wrong. Eventually you will be in and out quicker than you can show a 30.

Exactly. Don't worry about asking the yarddogs for help.