When I was 55, I was laid off from my job with one of the world’s largest multinational companies due to the pandemic situation. I had worked there for 30 years, and I was devastated.

After all, I had dedicated my entire working life to the company. I remember being so angry and confused. I had thought that after working for the company for so long I would be able to stay until I retired.

But I was wrong.

Now I’m 57, and the job search has been an uphill battle. To make matters worse, I keep getting told that I’m too old to be hired.

Everywhere I go, I’m asked about my age, and potential employers always seem to think that I’m too old to be of any use or will just say that I am overqualified. I’m extremely frustrated because I know that I have a lot to offer.

At first, I was angry that I had to start over again. I was angry that I had to go through the entire job search process again. I was angry that I had to confront ageism and all the other biases that I was up against.

But I eventually made peace with my situation. I realized that it was not the end of the world and that I had to make the best of it. I decided to focus on the positives.

I had a wealth of experience, knowledge, and skills to offer. I had a network of people who could vouch for my work. I had a passion for my work and a willingness to learn.

So I got to work. I started applying for different jobs, taking every opportunity to showcase my skills and experience. I attended job fairs and networking events.

I asked my contacts for help and advice. I kept a positive attitude and stayed open to learning new things.

It hasn’t been easy, and I’ve had to face a lot of rejections. But I’m not giving up. I know that if I keep trying, eventually I’ll find the right job.

I’m confident that I have the right skills and experience to make a positive contribution to any organization. I’m also open to learning new things and taking on new challenges.

Ageism is a real problem in the job market, but I’m determined to prove that age is just a number. I may be 57, but I’m still full of energy and enthusiasm.

I’m still as eager to learn and contribute as I was when I was younger. I know that I can still make a difference. So I’m going to keep fighting, keep trying, and keep believing.

 I was in a serious relationship with my boyfriend for over 3 years.

We had a lot of trust and understanding between us. But recently, things had become a bit stale between us and I wanted to spice things up. So I decided to do something that I thought would make him feel more comfortable and make us closer.

I asked my boyfriend to wear a skirt when we were at home.

At first, he was a little confused. He asked me why I wanted him to wear a skirt and I told him that it would give us an opportunity to be more intimate. I told him that it would make me feel more comfortable and intimate when I could grab his “banana” anytime I wanted.

He thought it was a strange request and he was a little embarrassed. But I assured him that I would make sure he felt comfortable wearing a skirt and that it wouldn’t be a big deal. I also told him that it would be a great way to spice up our relationship, which I think he was hesitant about.

After a few days of convincing, he finally agreed to wear a skirt at home with me. He was a bit hesitant at first, but once he realized how much it meant to me, he was willing to do it.

The first few times he wore a skirt, he was a little uncomfortable. But after a few weeks, he started to feel more comfortable in it and he even started to enjoy it. He felt like he was able to express himself more and he was able to show his true self to me.

I was really happy that he was willing to do this for me. I felt like it was a great way to show my love and appreciation for him. And I was also happy that he was able to feel more comfortable in his own skin.

Now, whenever we are at home, my boyfriend always wears a skirt and I love it. It makes me feel more intimate with him and I love being able to grab his “banana” anytime I want. It has definitely added a lot of spice to our relationship and I think it has made us even closer.

As a young adult living in a bustling metropolis like Singapore, I often feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of people that surround me.

Being a university student, I don’t have the financial means to afford a car of my own, so I rely heavily on public transport, mainly MRT, to get around. And while public transport can be convenient, it can also be a nightmare.

Every morning, I squeeze onto the MRT train, surrounded by throngs of other commuters. It’s a crowded and uncomfortable experience that I dread every day.

I’m constantly pushed and jostled, and I never have enough space to move around on the MRT. I’m often forced to stand for the entire journey, unable to find a seat.

And even when I do manage to snag a seat on the MRT, it’s often filled with someone else’s belongings or a sleeping commuter.

The worst part is that I can’t escape this situation. Sure, I could take the bus or a taxi, but I can’t afford those options on a regular basis. Taking the MRT is my only option, and I’m stuck with it.

I’ve tried various things to make the experience more bearable. I’ve tried to get to the station earlier so that I can get on the train before it’s too crowded.

I’ve tried bringing a book or my phone so that I have something to do while I’m stuck standing. I’ve even tried to take alternative MRT routes that might be less crowded, but nothing has really worked.

The experience is so unpleasant that I often find myself wishing I had a car. I could drive to my destination without having to deal with the crowds.

I could choose my own route and make my own schedule. I could even get to work on time without having to rush to the MRT station.

But unfortunately, I’m not in a financial position to own a car. I’m a student living on a tight budget, and a car is a luxury that I simply can’t afford.

So every morning, I’m stuck squeezing onto the MRT train and wishing for a better way.

I (28m) started having s- in my mid teens, but stopped having s- in my early 20s, specifically after my first real relationship came to an end.

I was 22. I never thought it would affect me as bad as it did for as long as it did.

But from 22 until recently, I’ve been avoiding relationships, even casual s-. As you can imagine, I did what most people do when they’re alone and ‘feeling it’, I ‘DIY-ed’. For 6 long years.

A few weeks ago I finally said enough is enough and decided to start dating again. After several unsuccessful dates and almost reverting back to my antisocial ways, I managed to make a connection.

She was cute, funny, covered in freckles and I loved it. Towards the end of our first date we agreed to continue the fun at her place.

Based on our body language, s- was definitely on the table. One of my biggest fears was ‘finishing’ almost instantly due to the 6 years of zero s-.

However, the opposite became my biggest challenge. I wasn’t ‘finishing’ at all. I could practically see the seasons change while I was ‘doing it’.

That’s how long it felt. After thrusting longer than I’ve ever thrusted in my life, I pulled out and apologized to my date.

She seemed as relieved as I was to stop. We were both complaining about being sore. I explained my 6 year situation and made her understand that she did nothing wrong. It was all me.

She understood and said it must be “death grip”. I never heard of it before, but when she explained it to me, it made sense. I Googled how to overcome death grip and the number one treatment plan was ‘DIY’ less.

I opted for not ‘DIY-ing’ at all and guess what? It didn’t help. No money shot. I had s- with the same freckle-faced girl for 3 weeks and I think her ‘cat’ really hates me.

Yesterday we were supposed to meet up but she called to tell me she’s no longer interested in seeing me because I’ve made it uncomfortable for her to walk properly.

I ‘DIY-ed’ this morning just to see if I can still ‘finish’ and the answer is yes.

I’ve literally trained my ‘bird’ to hate s and now I seemed to have lost a potential girlfriend.

I remember when I first started out as a freelancer, like many, I was a bit naive about the distinction between being self-employed and being a business owner.

I thought they were one and the same thing and that it didn’t really matter.

As I got further into the world of self-employment, however, I began to realize that there were some essential differences between the two.

Being self employed & being a business owner is essentially not the same

The most important difference between being self-employed and being a business owner is that when you are self-employed, you are essentially working for yourself and taking on all of the risks associated with that.

You have to wear all of the hats and handle all of the tasks associated with running a business, from marketing, to sales, to invoicing, to accounting. You are also responsible for any losses, as there is no one else to share in the burden.

In contrast, when you are a business owner, you are running a business with a team of employees. This means that you are able to delegate tasks to other people and share in the risk involved.

You are also able to take a more strategic approach to running the business, as you have the time and resources to do so. You are also able to benefit from the economies of scale that come with having a larger business.

The amount of money you make is also different

Another key difference between being self-employed and being a business owner is the amount of money you can make.

When you are self-employed, you are limited in the amount of money you can make by the number of hours you are able to put in. If you want to make more money, you have to work more hours.

This can be a difficult balance to maintain, especially if you have other commitments.

In contrast, when you are a business owner, you can benefit from the economies of scale that come with having a larger business. You are able to make more money in less time, as you are able to leverage the resources of your team to increase efficiency and productivity.

Additionally, you can benefit from the taxes and deductions associated with owning a business.

Control over the business

Finally, there is the issue of control. When you are self-employed, you have complete control over your business and you have to make all of the decisions.

This can be both a blessing and a curse, as it gives you complete freedom to make the decisions you want, but it also puts all of the responsibility on your shoulders.

In contrast, when you are a business owner, you have more control over the direction of the business, but you also have to rely on the input of your team.

This can be beneficial in terms of finding creative solutions to problems and increasing efficiency, but it can also be a challenge in terms of maintaining a cohesive team and making sure everyone is on the same page.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are some key differences between being self-employed and being a business owner. When you are self-employed, you are essentially working for yourself and taking on all of the risks associated with that.

In contrast, when you are a business owner, you are running a business with a team of employees and you can benefit from the economies of scale that come with having a larger business.

Additionally, you can make more money in less time, as well as benefit from the taxes and deductions associated with owning a business.

Finally, there is the issue of control, which is much different when you are a business owner.

I never thought that I would end up being one of the local SG guys getting caught in the Siam Bu trap.

It all started with a chance meeting at a local diu in Golden Mile, I was out with some friends for drinks and there she was, the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen.

I mustered up the courage to go over and introduce myself with my limited knowledge of Thai, and before I knew it we were talking for hours, even though it sounded like a ‘chicken’ and a ‘duck’ communicating.

We exchanged numbers and agreed to go on a date the following week.

That date was the start of a beautiful relationship. We were both so in love or so I thought and couldn’t get enough of each other.

We went on dates, traveled together, shared our hopes and dreams. We had planned a future together and I thought my life was finally complete.

But then it all changed. She started to withdraw and spend less and less time with me. I asked her what was wrong, but she just said she was busy and needed some space. I thought it was strange, but I respected her wishes.

Then one night, she broke the news to me. She had met someone else, someone who could give her the life she wanted. He was rich and successful, and she wanted to be with him. She said she was sorry, but it was over between us.

I was heartbroken. All my hopes and dreams for us had been shattered by this one moment. I tried to talk her out of it, to no avail. In the end, she left me for good.

The days since then have been a blur of pain and sorrow. I just can’t seem to get past it. The pain is still too raw and it haunts me when I least expect it.

I find myself thinking about her constantly, wondering what could have been if she had chosen me instead.

But I know that there’s no point in dwelling on the past. I have to move on and accept that she made her choice. Although it hurts, I have to find a way to heal and get on with my life.

It’s been a long and difficult journey, but I know that I will be okay in the end. I just have to take things one day at a time and find the strength to keep going.

I delivered a foodpanda order this morning, base earning and $3 tip. The order consisted of a packed food and a milo drink (cost $3.80, in a disposable sippy cup).

I noticed the spill as it dripped onto my feet after I ran over a bump at high speed. The drink uprooted from it holder and made a mess in my thermal bag. The food was unaffected though.

Acknowledged it was my fault for rough riding, i went to a nearby coffeeshop and bought a milo drink (2.80 but more serving, coincidentally the tip covered) and proceed to the customer house.

Arrived, i apologized to the customer and handled over the food and the replacement drink, but she denied the drink and calling me for doing a bad job for not being careful and the tip is undeserved, which I openly accept. However when she started to threatened to make a complaint to foodpanda and get me suspended, i asked her to reconsider this decision and accept the replacement drink or get her $3 back, as it may not worth the effort to go through foodpanda cs making complaint over a spilled drink.

She insisted to complain anyway, so I placed the food on her shoes rack but took the replacement drink with me, proclaimed that since she is going to get me fired, the drink is mine and will complete as many order while it last.

Ended my shift, i left with a lingering regret for not being careful, spilled a drink and disappointed a customer.