Work to Live NOT Live to Work

I find my self living to work so that I can make a living and everyone else can live. Does that make sense? Each morning it seems I think about this phrase, or however it actually goes. I want to work so that we can live a full wonderful life. But I do find myself living to work. I don't want to work all the time but the ends don't meet and I can't find a way out.

I have been on the Internet for about 6 years or so. At first I just played like everyone else. Then I decided I would take a course in Medical Transcription. I did. Then I realized I had to have two years of in service before they'd let me work from home. Well, I'm going to work from home. That's just the way it is.

So, I found a wonderful woman that would let me work from home. I started out transcribing things for her and for odd jobs she needed taken care of. There wasn't much work to be had but I got what was there.

As time went on her business grew, new employees were added and I became the Virtual Assistant for her company. I love being a Virtual Assistant. But it doesn't pay well enough to where I don't have to transcribe. So, I'm a Virtual Assistant and a Transcriptionist.

Before all this I ran a full licensed daycare. I liked the kids but the parents are something else. Your day is not over when they're off work. They want to stand around and talk or even worse, sometimes gripe about the way you're not 'raising' their kids for them.

That's when the Medical Transcription course came in. I wanted a way to stay at home with my kids and still provide for the family.

Since the Virtual Assistant pay isn't enough for me to simply be a VA and spend time with my kids, I'm transcribing. But that's hard on your arms and your back and your neck. So, I still run a daycare as well. I only have my sisters kids but still, they're here.

I decided that I wanted to build an online business. Finding a niche was hard. Just because I like something or think something's important doesn't mean more than 10 other people feel that way.

I was, and still am, selling things on eBay. I have a wholesalers license. It's hard to sell on eBay because there's always someone else that will sell it cheaper than I will.

I opened an online store for my Tshirts that I was selling on eBay. I thought, heck, I can sell on eBay, I surely can sell online but not have all those high eBay fees.

Well, that didn't work out very well. I'm having a hard time coming up with the money to drive traffic to my store.

Then one day I had a brainstorm. I REALLY love country living. So, I decided I would build a membership site all about any kind of information imaginable about Country Living and put it all in one site on the Internet. Again, driving people/traffic to my page smoked that idea for now.

So, I decided to sell Country Primitive decor items. I haven't had any sales on that site but am slowly learning to drive traffic there.

Back to the point. As you can see, I am virtually working 7 jobs just trying to Work To Live. But in turn it causes me to Live to Work. Is there ever a happy medium? Do people really make money online? What am I doing wrong?

The 7 jobs I'm talking about are, Daycare, eBay, VA, Transcriptionist, Online Tshirt Shop, Online Country Living Membership Site, Online Country Primitives Decor. This doesn't count home schooling, Girl Scouts and family.

I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me. It's my fault I want to stay home with my kids. It's simply the way I want to do it. I do not want anyone else raising my kids. God gave them to me to raise. I will be here for them.

Is there really a way, in my situation, to work to live and not live to work? Does anyone have any answers for me or even moral support because you're going through the same thing?

I get so depressed because I feel like I'm trying to make money for my kids and family but don't really get to spend any time with them. What sense does that make. But quitting is not an option.

I'm not a quitter. I've often thought about quiting the eBay and the online stores. But one day that could work out and I could be able to stop the rest of these jobs. That would be wonderful.

I'm not above working 8 hours a day. Heck, I work about 14 to 16 now. 8 hours a day would be a blessing for me.

I've not had time to watch TV for about 4 years now. Not that TV is important to me but that's where my family is and I'm in here working.

Okay, my rant is over. I hope your day goes well. God will help me out in one way or another soon, I'm sure.

If you like country primitive decor, stop by my store. You could find the one item you've been looking for. www.jklcountryprimitives.com

Thanks for your time,
TAM