Hopeful in Spite of it All
The news tugs at the side of my consciousness. I watch it from time to time, but have decided not to let it rule my day. I think it was Mark Victor Hansen who once described the news as “The same bad stuff happening to different people every day.” I’m keeping up on things, but that’s about it. I notice it goes on without me.
I sometimes wish the news media, Hollywood, and all the TV stations would take a more responsible tack with the news and their shows. Everything seems to be about sensation: screaming; being offended; being punked; being caught; being made to look stupid. One wonders how much life is imitating art. How much is a reflection of our life, and how much has caused the life we now see?
Perhaps because I travel so much, I see a bigger world. I know we are in trouble. I know that we are all connected globally. And yet, as they say, “All Politics is local.” Flying over half the country in the past month, I still see an amazing landscape. I still see grit and determination in the faces of everyday people. I still see mothers loving their babies; fathers playing catch with their kids. I still see elderly couples holding hands as they take an afternoon stroll.
No – none of that is on TV. None of it is remarkable. It’s just life being lived while the crazy people in DC and on Wall Street muck around with our lives and our livelihood. It’s a reminder that life goes on. Some will be more affected than others. The life ‘as we know it’ may not exist tomorrow. Then again, tomorrow is always different from today.
We cannot change anything by worrying. Fretting about a bill never paid the bill. We can fix things by doing something — anything. And when we are doing – we are probably not worrying because our focus is elsewhere.
So – here’s what I did. I canceled several things that were on automatic monthly credit card charges. I went through my things and found stuff that I no longer wanted or needed. Some of it I sold on ebay. Some of it I gave away. I planned my meals a little better and did a more comprehensive, smart grocery list. I brought only cash with me to the grocery store, forcing me to spend within my limits. I paid my utilities, phone bill, and office supplies bill with cash. Ahh – now THAT’s an eye opener. $78 looks different in a check book than it does counting out of your wallet.
Go about your day in peace. Do the best you can to be smart about your finances. But don’t let the insanity come between you and your loved ones. Don’t let it take away your sleep. Tap into your resourcefulness. Tap into your creativity. Get your family involved in finding ways to make it through this.
Remember, no matter how bad you think you’ve got it, we are still doin’ pretty good. Everything is relative, including your relatives!
Here’s to hoping we all learn from this and make this country great again.
Cheers,
Beth
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© 2008 Beth Terry Seminars, Inc.
