this topic has been on my mind for awhile now and i really wanted to share my thoughts and discuss this with you my friends...
i am not coming from a political angle but from an emotional one.
we all realize these last years have been providing us with many peaks and valleys in our economy so how has it affected you? and not in a financial way, because we know we have all had to work harder than ever before.
but from a true inner connection with your faith, family, friends and home.
my friend came up with the perfect word for it. savor.
in all of this change i really feel as though many are humbled and truly living their
lives in a more realistic way...
through all of this... we are all becoming better people don't you think?
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21 comments:
I agree. I feel like my generation is learning that you don't graduate and make 100K off the bat. You have to work for it...and you don't get a promotion every year ;)
This bubble burst has even changed the course of my future. Although I feel more like taking risks than being conservative...because playing it safe with my investments have not paid off the way I hoped. I am excited for what the future holds...even if it's looking a little bleak right now.
Great post!
My goodness yes - as one of those who had to reinvent, it certainly made my priorities crystal clear! I think I have more empathy now too, and while I certainly don't believe 'do what you love and the money will follow', I AM doing what I love and it is exhilarating and profitable, so I have come to the conclusion I know nothing at all....
You know how I feel about this my dear friend. I feel like I am both more grateful and clearer than ever before. So much in our life is still up in the air but for whatever reason I feel more grounded. Sure I miss the ease and freedom of my "old" life but there is a sweetness now that wasn't there before. I do worry about my kids future and opportunities. Maybe it has been good for them to see that nothing is guaranteed in this life and you had better have a plan B. That whole entitlement issue that was creeping up on our children has certainly been hacked away too. And yes...I do savor the small things so much more. Mae's curls, Sam's awkward 13 year old smile, and Max's young mans grace..and of course the little whale painting :).
there is no doubt about it.
some people have ended in a place that they never expected to be
{ like me }
besides the top 3% of great wealth in this country
it seems the upper middle class has had the playing field a bit more leveled on them.
and it is odd.
but i agree
individuals care for others in way that i thought we had lost forever.
but it is back we all feel it
xx
great topic you ole' sentimental thing.
Opportunity...
To be awake more...
Care...deeply...
Live...simply and passionately...
To reconfigure...
What's important...
What's creative...
What is your life?
Many humbled hearts...re-inventing...life... For the better.
I TOTALLY AGREE! A little humble pie never hurt anyone.
Since this horrible recession (I call it a depression) has hurt the wealthy as badly or more than the middle and lower class, many changes can be noticed.
While I think that the hardest workers were giving up money they have earned because of hard work, work ethic and appreciation for all things has certainly grown.
Thank you for posting htis.
Teresa
xoxo
I do think so Pam. We don't know what the future holds, but WHO holds the future and for that I am eternally grateful. xo
I think that so much more creativity comes from necessity and reinventing yourself creates so many opportunities to grow and change. I just think of all the things that were on my list that I never would have tried had these changes in the economy not come along. Now I am not saying that it has been great but in a way it has been a great way to rediscover myself.
Christina
I strongly agree. Not to say that living paycheck to paycheck again is any fun, but I do agree that I appreciate the little things in life (a clean closet, a long walk with my husband, a sassy new coat from the clearance rack) so much more!
I tried to have this conversation with someone at a holiday party a few months ago and she clearly wasn't receptive. She and her husband had been laid off, figured out how to live with in their new unemployed means and then were once again gainfully employed (in better positions). I said, "don't you think you learned and are a stronger person for it?" She acted insulted that I would even propose the idea. I guess we aren't all becoming more grateful for the circumstances we are in.
Savor. Perfect word, my dear. It's good to savor every gift, every day. And the little things can be the most important. The first daffodils. The first day where it stays light after 5pm. A yummy meal share with your girlfriends. You and I are so blessed. I love being reminded of that. Thanks.
XO
Jeanne
I just found your blog tonight, I remember coming into your shop a couple of springs ago during the movie festival weeks and talking with you. It is so funny how blogging seems to find the creative types! I can't wait to come visit your shop again. And get some legalized frostitution from your neck of the woods while I am at it, I have been craving their salted caramel cupcake.
My comment was not very deep, I do believe it is during the hard times we learn who we really are, if those hard times are what it takes for me to be genuine, bring them on, although I hope I don't have to wait for those times to just do it on my own. We have been blessed so far in our lives with "just enough" to live a normal life and I am grateful for that after being raised in poverty.
I do see us becoming better people. We get little glimpses of that all the time and it fills up our hearts, doesn't it? Simpler, richer lives, distilled right down to their very essence. That's why, I think, I love volunteer work for hospice. At the very end of life, all the non-essential stuff is striped away and we can look right into the eyes of living, being, God. But to get to that point in our everyday lives seems almost impossible. Getting glimpses every now and again keep us (me)on the right path...
great subject. so multi-layered. and I love what christina said about being more creative with less. I do so agree!
thanks pam, for giving us the opportunity to think and dig a little into ourselves.
love, donna
Pam, I have been thinking about this too. My life has changed dramatically in the job cutbacks!
I have so many wonderful blog friends and a great family, really very fortunate in that.
When I visit sites like yours I always wish I could make a purchase of something I really want/ vs need!
I guess that is why I host so many giveaways, it at least gives an opportunity for our friends to get something beautiful.
The word savor is perfect!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I call it 'a much needed detox'. Coming from Africa I was astounded by the consumerism in the west. six years ago on my daughter's birthday party, I watched in horror how she had ripped at wrapping paper to open her many,many presents barely pausing to look at them.It was her special day ,but I knew that,as an only child in a couple of days those gifts would not have meant much to her at all.So after a chat , my Hubby and I then decided to have a party for her every other year.During the year she doesn't have a 'partay', we will have an intimate day at the movies or the theater.Her parties are appreciated more now. The recession was inevitable. it's not fun, but it has taught me to truly value what I have ,including relationships with people.I have done work for free in return for a favor that isn't money,a lot of that is happening in the styling industry. As a Buddhist I hope we all come out of this A better people.
I can certainly relate to the working hard thing... The other observations are good ones too... Just dont forget to reward yourself.Maryanne;)
Not to go all faith on you...but I truly think that God will love us anywhere we are in life, on top or down deep in the hole. Each day I realize that life is a journey and to embrace life with passion, creativity, empathy and yes, "savor" and relish each person along with the gifts they possess.
Humans are resilient!
We can bounce back from the darkest - deepest abyss.
was it me ?
am i the friend ?
if not, that's my word, too.....and i have put it to good use this year so far.
We were very lucky to have dodged the economic recession bullet here in Australia Pam, but only by the grace of God. I just hope that the fiscal misdealings of the past are never allowed to occur again in your country. It will take guts to enforce strict regulation, let's hope we see all those guts on display. The sight of so many houses in the US foreclosed & empty will stay etched on my mind forever. So many hopes & dreams shattered - where are those people now, how are they living?
Millie x
It has been an amazing time to go through with my 2 teens. Every morning we read current events (online) and discuss all angles of a story. It has been such a huge learning curve for my kids and for myself. It has led us to REALLY search out true moral and ethical behavior instead of correct religious dogma. I love this path we are on. As a mother, it is very difficult to continue guiding the kids, especially when I am walking right beside them.
I'm so late to this conversation but it's such a poignant one I have to chime in as these last few weeks have had me feeling very in tune with what is important and what is 'fluff'. Now, saying that, I believe the fluff is important too...it helps to support and nourish the creative side that can get lost when things are bleak...even just *looking* can give the spirits a lift, and that's important too.
xo J~
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