u/stixy_stixy

I'm sure this is asked a lot, so I hope this is okay.

I have a degree in professional writing and was a technical writer for the last 15 years. However, I got laid off for the second time in a row back in Dec 2025, and finding new employment has been impossible. It's such a saturated industry, and when you add the widespread adoption of AI, it's 10x worse.

I have decided to do a complete career change. After months of trying to narrow my skills, strengths, and what I think I would be good at, I landed on this career. When I thought of this profession, I felt the same "It's my calling" feeling I had when I found the writing degree I took.

For so many reasons, it is exactly what I want to do.

I've signed up for an intro to funeral services course that starts next week, and as long as I am still feeling this way when I finish that, I'm going to go ahead and apply for the funeral director and embalmer program.

My questions are really about how to approach funeral homes to secure employment. I truly don't care what job I get; I want my foot in the door so I can learn how it all works.

I know there are a limited number of funeral homes in a city, so I want to make sure I am approaching each of them in the best way, since there are only so many places that could hire me. I understand this industry is different than most, so I truly need to set my best foot forward. I need help doing that.

- How did you start your career in this industry?

- Did you email to ask if they had openings, call to ask about employment opportunities, or just randomly show up one day and ask to speak to someone?

- Or, did you simply send your resume in to a job opening you saw on a job board?

- What kind of things did you say to get across that you were truly interested in this as a career and you weren't just looking for any old job?

- Did you tell them you were planning on going to school, or that you were in school? Do you think them knowing this would help or hinder someone's chance of being hired?

-Are there certain personality types that do best in this industry? Can you think of some traits or qualities that are truly important?

Please let me know anything else you feel could be helpful.

I truly appreciate it.

Up until age 31, I was always at an average, healthy weight, and I didn't really need to try. I think I ate intuitively.

But... during COVID, I put on 80 pounds. The weight gain was caused by meds that increased my appetite plus an abusive relationship that led to depression and eating for comfort.

I have lost 40 pounds so far. My belly has certainly shrunk, but it's still there. If it doesn't go away by the time I'm at my goal, I am going to be so sad and upset with myself for ever gaining the weight to begin with.

So, for those of you who had an apron belly and then lost the weight and got to your goal... did the belly remain, or did it disappear?

Thanks!

Those of you who have lost weight and dropped clothing sizes, did you keep your old clothes or donate them?

For the first 30 years of my life, I was a healthy weight. I am 5'3" and in my 20s, weighed anywhere between 120 and 140. Then I got into an absolutely horrific relationship (left him three years ago), became depressed and started a medication (Seroquel) that majorly increased my appetite, and before long, I was 210 pounds.

Earlier this year, I decided to start taking my health seriously. I'm getting older, and I'd rather deal with this now than ten years from now. By this point, I've lost a bunch of weight - I am currently sitting at 168 pounds, which is the lowest I've been since I was 30 or 31. My goal is 130. My 40th birthday is in January, and I am determined to enter that decade in a body I love. I want my 40s to be my best decade yet.

I don't know what to do with my old clothes that are now much too big. One part of me is like, "Better keep those clothes in case this new lifestyle doesn't stick," but the other part of me thinks keeping the clothes is sort of like a safety net. Keeping them would mean I don't have the confidence or belief in myself that I can maintain this healthier body.

So, what have you done with them? Any regrets?

I have been a tech writer for 12 years, but after not finding a similar role since I was laid off late last year, I've started applying for jobs I think I could pivot to. I took a proposal writing class at university, but that was way back in 2014, so I'm not sure it matters.

For me, being a proposal coordinator would be an easier transition than being a proposal writer, but I am not sure how to spin my lack of direct experience positively. In everyday life, my natural inclination is to downplay my achievements and not exude confidence. But this won't work during an interview.

Because I've never been a proposal coordinator, I know there will be questions asked that I don't have a solid answer to. Or they'll ask me if I've ever done X and I won't be able to say yes. Instead of saying, "No, I've never done that," how can I make myself sound competent and that my not having direct experience doesn't mean I don't have relevant experience?

Thank you!

I was on Wellbutrin/Bupropion for many years, then stopped for about a year, and now I'm six weeks back on it. The déjà vu is so unsettling. I never connected it with Wellbutrin before, but just now I had the idea to look up if any medications can cause déjà vu and the first answer said, "Antidepressants: Drugs like Wellbutrin (bupropion) have been reported by users to cause intense or recurring sensations of déjà vu."

For years, I've wondered wtf this was. It comes at strange times, usually when I am really warm (like in the bath) or go from outside to inside and my body warms up. It's like I'm having déjà vu about a dream I've had, but I can't quite grasp the memory. I immediately start sweating, and the more I try to remember, the more lightheaded and fearful I become. It's a weird anxiety and feeling of dread that tightens my chest.

Then, just as fast as the feeling came, it's gone, and so is the dream/memory I was just struggling to remember. I can feel my chest untighten and my head and body cool down. The episode lasts 5-10 seconds.

For those who have experienced this, is it a permanent thing for you, or did it go away as your brain adjusted to the med?

I know it's absolutely the wrong season for winter boots, but I got into barefoot shoes over the last few months and now I find a regular shoe highly uncomfortable. So, I want to plan ahead for next winter. I have a 100 pound dog that pulls during walks if he sees another dog (working on it), and I live in a very snowy climate that gets icy.

Last winter I bought a pair of boots with flip grip spikes, and I felt so safe wearing them while walking my dog. When winter rolls around next, I'd love a pair of barefoot boots with spikes.

Thanks!

There is damage to my car from an accident 7 years ago. At the time, I didn't have the money to pay the deductible, and I had other priorities in life, so I just left it and haven't cared. It's the front right bumper that's damaged.

I wanted to add collision and comprehensive to my policy, but the woman I spoke to on the phone said this is not possible unless I get the damage fixed first.

I know Google isn't always accurate or reliable, but Google gave me a pretty clear "Yes" you can, you just have to declare it first and send pictures.

So, is this something that each insurance company decides for itself, was the lady lying to me, or was Google lying to me?

Thanks!

Over the last several years, I brought my credit score up from 519 to 730. I had always been smart with money... until I got into a financially abusive relationship. Once I left the relationship, fixing my credit score and financial situation became a top priority for me.

I currently have a Triangle World Elite Mastercard and a Capital One Smart Rewards Mastercard. My utilization is kept between 10-40%, which is why I'm wondering if a third card would be smart (so the 40% never happens). My cards are paid off in full each month, and I don't make any payments on them until I receive my monthly statements.

My wondering about getting a third card isn't about needing more credit available to me, it's about keeping utilization low and maximizing benefits.

The card I am interested in and pre-approved for is the PC World Mastercard.

I just don't know how many credit cards are good to have.

Thanks!

Edit: After the comments I've received so far, I've decided not to get a third card, at least not another Mastercard. I might look into Visa a bit more to see if there are any good ones I might qualify for, but I'm not too concerned about it. I don't think there's any real need. Thanks again!

First, I know nothing about lightboards beyond the half hour of research I just did.

I always frame my canvas before I paint, and I use a tabletop easel. Is a lightboard even worth it? From my limited understanding, the idea is to have the lightboard directly under the canvas, ie, they should actually be touching. Because of my setup, won't there be a gap between the lightboard and the canvas? Will it still work? I overthink everything, so I apologize if this is a silly question.

I know I am going to go with an A2 size, but I am not sure about anything else. Any tips or recommendations?

Do you still use a dedicated overhead light, or just whatever lighting you have in the room?

Thank you!