I've been quiet as of late. I've been caught up in our nation's latest crisis. No, it's not all those illegal immigrants who come here and steal our jobs (because I soooo want to work under the table for less than minimum wage.) It's not those gays getting married ruining the sanctity of marriage (which should only be reserved for unwilling teenagers under the media spotlight in a desperate attempt to avoid the fact that abstinence only education doesn't work.) No, I'm not thinking about the war (although I was pissed to find out that while we are spiraling into debt, Iraq has a $79 Billion surplus)
Like many of you...I'm thinking of the economy.
How is this going to end? No one really knows.
But I've come to three conclusions on how we can get through this. And the answers can be found in the classic film..."It's a Wonderful Life."
1. DON'T PANIC! - This is the most important rule. Let's not panic! Let's all recall the scene in It's a Wonderful Life when the townspeople rushed the bank trying to get their money. George Bailey kept his head together and calmed everyone down. It's hard to think straight and make smart choices when your head is spinning. George Bailey kept the Savings and Loan open by keeping everyone calm. And he did one more thing that leads me to my next point...
2. CUT EXPENSES! - After calming down the townspeople, George Bailey asked them not to pull out all their money and not to sell to Mr. Potter. But he did say to take out enough to get by. That seems like really sound advice for us. Let's just get by. Let's look at what we spend our money on and figure out where we can cut the fat. And lets just put that away for now.
3. HELP EACH OTHER! - I'm a big believer in Karma. If you do good things, then good things will come to you. All his life George Bailey was a good guy and helped those around him. In his time of need, those he helped, helped him in return. If you see someone who is hurting and struggling, then lend a hand if you can. It will come back to you.
If you want to boil down these three items, it basically comes to this...lets all calm down, hunker down and wait for this to blow over. And we'll get through this together.
These are hard scary times for all of us, let's all take a moment to ask what ever higher power you believe in to keep an eye out for us....Hugs and God bless!
Ahhh, Sonia, the voice of simple reason. Thank you for reminding me. I am not going to watch the movie tomorrow. Just sit quietly and enjoy. I shouldn't have much work to do tomorrow, and I plan to take a little break from my blogging. Especially the political ones. Life is good. Random acts of kindness make life even better. My grandchildren make it almost perfect. If I had some Hagan Daz coffe ice cream right now, my life would be perfect. Dirty dishes and unfolded clothes and all.
ReplyDeleteLove ya !
Rhoroe.
PS missed seeing you!
Just like those who survived the recession, we will survive and we will hopefully learn some really important lessons in life. Most of us can survive on the bare minimum, we have just become accustomed to wanting and having more. Great blog, and even after all these years, great advice.
ReplyDeleteThis is great advice for those who are able to do it. Actually it's great advice for everyone. It's just that those of us already having been doing with out (the elderly, single moms, minimum wage workers and those who've already lost their jobs) don't have any more corners to cut. Those who can cut corners, will, there’s very LITTLE choice, those who can’t cut corners will still have to because there simply will be NO choice. Help is sparse. Even the agencies dedicated to help are falling on hard times. No doubt we will get through this (we really don't have a choice) but it wont' be unscathed or without heavy consequence. But your head and heart is in the right place. Hopefully those who can at least help a little will. God Bless, Sonia.
ReplyDeleteyou know, here is the fact...most people have only lost their profits, and not the initial investments....But, they are acting like they lost everything...the other thing is, they do not want to change their lifestyles...
ReplyDeleteAgain, society is not taking responsibility...The bailout sweeps all under the rug...The crooks get away with it...and in 15 years, we are back to the same problems...
Credit cards will still get maxxed, and people will still spend beyond their means...
When a house worth 100k is sold for 200k, that should be a red flag...when there are records amount of homeless...When people are buying homes that are not even built yet, it makes you wonder...
When renters are getting evicted out of apartment buildings becomes the owner has collected all the rents, and did not pay the mortgage, and it's the renters who suffer, the bank forecloses, and the owner gets away with it, it's societies fault...
None of the real issues have been addressed in this bail out...the trust in Wall St is gone, and the domino effect is there...and still, few have learned....People still want their 30 grand cars, and 200/mnth and are getting them...
Remember, George Bailey tried to kill himself...if the angel did not appear, he would have...People refuse to open their eyes, and see the truth...they would prefer to believe the lies...and thus, refuse to learn or take responsibility...
Well DAYUMMMMMM. Baring all the other issues mentioned, yes profits have been lost. ONLY lost profits? Hell, when you're counting on those profits for your retirement it's a huge deal; essentially you have lost a part of your future. I don’t know about any one else, but in my estimation it IS damn near to losing everything. And the losses are coming dangerously close to the initial investments.
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