Men are generally seen and expected to be the main breadwinners of the family. However, that can be difficult for some due to unexpected tragedies or circumstances outside of their control.
A Malaysian man recently took to social media to share how helpless and useless he felt after years of joblessness and having to see his wife take up the mantle of being the family’s provider.
New year, same old burdens
In a now-viral Threads post, the man said that he was a father in his 40s and was entering the new year with a heavy burden in his heart.
“When I look at the achievements of my friends and relatives, I feel so useless. I stopped working in 2020 and I tried working all kinds of jobs but none of them worked out.
“My wife, who is also working, has since been the one supporting the family most of the time. I feel sorry for my wife and children and I also feeI sorry for my parents for having a child like me,” he lamented.
The man also bemoaned his lack of life skills and savings, saying that seeing his peers’ success in managing their own households has taken a toll on his self-esteem.
“I often wonder: can I still succeed? I still take care of my children’s and daily household matters, but as a man, if I can’t provide for my family, it’s very embarrassing.
“When I’m with friends or even my own siblings who are successful, I really sense how low my sense of self-worth is.”
Netizens comfort OP
In the comment section, netizens rallied together to urge the man not to give up on himself just yet and to put his focus on what he currently has in life.
‘Be grateful for what you have. I’m 45 and my business went bankrupt and I’m burdened with a RM25 million debt. My friends and family have all disappeared. But in hardships there is also wisdom. We learn from our mistakes and keep trying for as long as we can.’
‘I pray that you will find a job that brings more benefits to your family. First, you need to fix your mindset and surround yourself with a good social circle. Reduce interactions with friends who are unhelpful or like to gossip so that you can stay motivated and positive.’
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