I remember when I was on rack for "the American dream." I had graduated with a degree and no debt. I had a place of my own. I had a job with what looked like a glowing future. Those were happier times. And then it all crumbled around me. I don't feel like I've been on anything resembling a path to success since 2008. I've been making the best of bad situations since. Even now, while I like most aspects of my job, it doesn't really offer enough hours or enough pay for me to make another go at independence. "Just get another job," people say, but with my health issues, this takes every bit of energy I have. It doesn't suck, but it still drains me. Happier times were real, especially when everything feels like a struggle just to stay afloat now.