I think I just heard the recession rapping on my front door.
A lot of people I actually know are giving concrete reasons why they’re struggling.
Some of them have lost jobs (or will soon lose their job). Some can’t find work and they’re smart and they’ve been looking. Some are wondering what to do when the rate on their home loan changes.
I was out looking for a used car recently and heard tales of woe from a sector I don’t normally consider. It’s not just home loans that are tougher to get these days.
Other things I’ve heard: People moving in together because the other option is camping. Teens who can’t find minimum-wage jobs because even those jobs are hard to come by. Working seniors postponing retirement because of losses in the stock market.
If you read the news, of course, it’s enough to scare you out of your sweatpants: bailouts, massive layoffs, unemployment, people giving up their pets because they can’t afford them. Today was a beauty: top banking CEOs paid $1.6 billion in bonuses last year while their institutions were failing.
But, dude, I’m sooo not trying to bum you out. What I’m actually resonating with, here on the eve of Christmas Eve, is a renewed sense of thankfulness. Even if we really are smack dab in the middle of hard times, we still have quite a bit. It puts a sharper focus on what’s really important: your family, your kids, your friends, laughing, relaxing, spending time on your passions, being real.
I read this story in The Atlantic recently about this leading Chinese banker saying how American needs, in essence, to get real about a lot of things. The story made me feel better, because even though we owe China a ton of money, it’s not really in their interests to see us fail. Plus, the guy’s right, we probably need to start spending money we actually have.
This is how you talk when you’re in a recession: “It’s the simple things that matter anyway.” “I’m just glad I’ve got a roof over my head.” “We’re cutting back, but it’s OK.”
I did buy that used car. We still buy groceries. There are still people willing to pay me something for my writing.
I believe the economic gears are still in motion, even if they’re not spinning like they once were. I’m sure we’ll climb out of this eventually.
Anybody care to warm their hands up next to me? Got a nice fire going in this barrel.
