Doesn't sound like your spirit is dead, but surely understand how the grind would wear on one. A bit of music would make your verse a proper anthem.

There's an old show biz expression "never let 'em see you sweat." Another way to put it is this: "Never let the crap life throws at you define who you are." You're as strong, and as beautiful, and as courageous as you dare to be.

Yes, the grind can do that to you… Destroy your spirit. On the other hand, I've seen people retire after long years of grinding away, only to die suddenly because they no longer have a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

I think the sooner we get away from the grind, the better chance we have of living a long, pleasant and fruitful life.

Ron

Losing money on that house after all that work kinda changes my perspective.L

Just asking . . . Don't you think your spirit would've been dead long before if you had refused to work and paid the mortgage on the house and left your kids without good clothes, etc? I feel very strongly that working to feed and clothe your children is a good thing. I can say that because I failed to do that and I am ashamed to this very day.

it is too bad that most do just thus
budd

We either work to live or live to work or we work it out or we're out working or we are getting worked up or (that doesn't work!)... anyways, you've assembled a vivid verse here that shoots apart the idea that work is good for much of anything but sending us to an early grave... and if you had as grave a tone as your theme, we'd all be sombreros or sombre or some such sum of your potential readership... but thankfully, you've spiced your savvy summary with an undercurrent of comic tongue-in-cheek banter so this ballsy ballad of a ballet is a real beauty!! Enjoyed mucho here, Larko!
Roger