Thank you for visiting my profile page.  I just want to say....whatever you are looking for, 7cups has a way of giving you something.....whether its an actual therapist, a listener or just forum participation, you will get something from scrolling around and visiting this site.  Don't give up.  Participate and get involved.  It helps. 

Now for a little about me....I know its long so thanks for reading if you stay.....

I enjoy biking, as you may be able to tell from my screen name.  But it also represents the cycles we go through in our lives, the ups and downs, the goods and bads.......

I came here to search the forums, get the help I need and maybe drop a post or two that will help someone else.

I'm a big fan of CBS prime time television with my favorite shows being:

NCIS(original, Hawaii, LA and NOLA), all 3 FBI shows, SWAT and the new CSI.   I also really like The Good Doctor on ABC.  I'm a big Guy Fierri fan and like all his different shows on Food Network.

My favorite books are WWII books, The Jack Reacher series books, and The Alex Cross series books

I did 8 years in the ARMY right out of high school (82nd Airborne with 1 year 2ID in Korea)

I enjoy working out, weight lifting, spin classes and biking in particular,  leisurely floating around the local lakes in my kayak, and playing "radio".  I am a licensed Amateur (HAM) radio operator.

I have 2 grown boys, 2 grown step daughters, and a 15 year old still at home.  4 grandchildren as of now. 

I came to 7cups for help and support with work stress and job burnout.  I've been in the corrections field since 1997, in one capacity or another, working with people who made mistakes and want to change their lives,  inmates, addicts, and just some genuinely narcissistic and evil individuals. The job has great pay, great benefits and a better than average retirement plan.  I am up for retirement in Jan 2027 at the age of 55. There is no "end" product at the end of the day to feel accomplished about.  No real "reward" so to speak.  As long as everyone goes home safe and no one gets hurt or dies, you've basically had a good day.  The job has changed a lot since I started.  Much of this has to do with politics and the way the public views the penal system.  The last 3 or 4 years, I have been experiencing bouts of burnout. Didn't want to go to work, dreaded going to bed at night because I knew I had to go to work in the morning, didn't want to do anything I enjoyed after work because all I kept thinking about was work.  It was bad, real bad.  These bouts would last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.  Last year, I had a bout of burnout that lasted close to 6 weeks.  I was to the point where I was ready to throw it all away.  Leave the job.  So close to retirement, yet it seemed unreachable because of my frame of mind and burnout.  It was then that decided to try therapy.  It was during covid so I had to do video sessions.  I did three sessions and stopped.  Most of the things this guy wanted me try, personally, I knew weren't going to work, just based on the environment I worked in.  I feel like unless you have experienced or work in that sort of environment, you just don't get it.  So I came to 7cups.  I was hoping to find a listener.  When I started searching the forums, I found that there were people here who had good ideas.  Even though their situation wasn't exactly like mine, there were things I could do or try and twist them a bit to fit my situation.  I found that the forums were helping a great deal with ideas.  Then I decided to start participating.  I wanted to put some of my things out there and support and help others the best I could.  If I can help prevent what I'm going through, its a win/win.  I never did actually connect with a listener.  I think its because, based on the job, I can't say what I want to say without coming off the wrong way.  I'm still contemplating it but I think I'm happy with just forums right now.