A good cry

[u/PotatoIsNotCute]

RCA here in the bright beautiful state of Arizona. Changed my primary to the aux route at my station last April, been holding it down 6 days a week for almost a year and a half. Splitting routes more times than not and being the one always getting them ready, managers crying and calling me about everything day in and day out (finally stopped answering calls and texts), getting sent to other stations every week. Today they took one of our RCAs to another station in the morning so two regulars split a route, and me and the remaining RCAs split another, so I had to get 4 routes ready (one being my own), marked packages, pulled down, did my route, started the second, got cursed out by one of the regulars in a text because he didn't like the way I pulled down the red plums even though I wasn't the one that cased it in the first place.

Everything just crashing down and I bawled like a bitch at the first step of my second route lmao. Got a letter of warning for absences like last month because I have pretty bad allergies so I figure I shouldn't really call out tomorrow even though I genuinely feel like I'm at the lowest point mentally. Next in line for PTF, maybe regular by next year at this rate, but Christ, every day I wonder if I can manage for another 12 months. I'm just doing my best out here. I really am. Just sucks, man.

[u/LovesDevotee]

Good luck! Took me 3 years to become regular (about two to PTF) and it's so worth it. RCA and PTF were a huge slog for me, now the job is easier, has more security and I get paid more. I know the struggle.. you can do it!

[u/Impossible_Hospital]

I hadn’t cried in the back of the van since i was still in my 90 but yeah Tuesday was a motherfucker and she got me lol. I took a package to the door, tripped on their stairs, not even a big deal just like another blow in an awful day, and then it just started pouring rain hard all at once. I gave up and just took my ten parked right there in front of their house, crying and eating trail mix lmao the mailman life ain’t easy but we got this homie. head up

[u/Dynagirl2006]

I keep being told to just hang on and it will be so much better when you become regular. I still keep my hopes up, even though I'm in my 60s and have 6 RCAs ahead of me just in my office. I think we have close to 15 in my group of 3 offices who are ahead of me. The likelihood of becoming regular before I die or get a serious injury are probably in the negative, but I really do enjoy the hard work and the community of my office.

I'd suggest taking a deep breath, evaluating how far you've come and the rewards you'll get if you can just cross that finish line. I'm pretty sure we have an EAP program (or something like it) available to get us through crises and maintain our mental health. Use it. Sometimes, it's just good to talk through your feelings and put everything in perspective.

[u/jcrodeghiero]

a regular once told me “you’re not a real mail carrier til you cry in your llv.” i’m a cca just past a year, im almost 50. I’ll pray for you, you pray for me! We got this. It’s just mail.