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DJH 
12:37pm Tuesday
I wonder about what these days will look like 20 years from now. I look at my kids, aged 4 and 6, and wonder how they'll describe their childhood, and if they are even noticing this financial crisis which occupies most of the attention of the adults. we stress out about our jobs, our mortgages, our ability to put food on the table, and our kids go to school, play with friends, and seem to take the little changes to their life in stride. they'll ask why we're eating at different places (or not eating out as much at all), or maybe not going on that vacation...but so far, they seem oblivious. and i suppose that's just as good.
and then, of course, there's the question of how will I look at these days? it feels stressful - very - and i wonder if that will come across, with time, or will we think it wasn't that bad?
i'm not sure about you, but i alternate between an "it's gonna be allright" mentality and a "the world is ending" panic. i watch the Dow like a hawk, which is ironic as the Dow has very little direct bearing on my financial position these days...maybe I just watch it in the same way we all slow down to see a car crash on the freeway.
and i feel as if we're all forgetting that life continues, and that it's not all about money, as much as it feels like that.
what weird times...for sure...
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Comments
Amen.
mamatheresa
Very astute and insightful thoughts my dear friend. Have felt the same way but have not been able to state it so eloquently. What is that strange curiosity we humans seem to have ... to gawk at accidents and stock markets? Do you think we have it in us to know what's going on and yet choose not to look? Would the curiosity be too much or do you suppose it provides us with a coping mechanism?
Believe in the end it has to be all right .. and life does continue .. and if we're really blessed we make valuable and heartwarming friendships along the way. Although financially I am close to succumbing and am definitely treading water ... it's then I imagine I have only two weeks to live and the pressure of the finances flies right out the window and I only want to spend my time with family and friends. Guess that's how to tell where our true treasure lies.
Take care, my friend. You have done much good in your life and you should be very proud. (((Hugs))) to you, your wife and the little ones. Ranae
heartgirl
I refuse to worry about the things I cannot change. Sometimes information isn't always such a good thing. So you look at the angelic little faces of those beautiful children and you make sure that every day has one fun thing. Children are more resilient than you think. Instead of going out for dinner, bake cookies and then let them make a mess decorating them. Cheap, and they will remember that longer than last night's dinner. I used to make mini pizzas with my kids. Bowls of stuff and let them build the pizzas themselves. They were COOKING stuff and it tasted good. Remember the simple things in life and stop worrying about things out of your control. Look at the big picture and make a list of what is important to you on a more personal level. Hope something of this helps.
Liane999
The Devil is in the details.
Watching the stock market climb, fall, then climb again with an uncertainty as to how long it will remain that way can't be good for you.
There have been a few flights I've been on that have had some severe turbulence during the flight. The instinct is to watch out the window, but really, how much can you really tell about what's going on by watching clouds with no other context? You can't really see the ground (unless you bank sharply) and you can't really see the sky, other than the horizon. So I clasp my hands, bow my head, close my eyes and go to my happy place.
There is nothing I can do at that point to make the plane fly or not fly. There is no point worrying about what might happen if...if...if...
In a way, what happens on the market affects all of us eventually. But trying to watch for the exact moment when you're getting screwed is only going to make things worse.
Meshugganah
My daughter is eight years old, and one of her favorite books is one we have that was published by the same publisher as the "Reminisce" magazine (I think they publish "Taste of Home" stuff, too). Anyway, it is an anecdotal/photographical book of essays about the Depression years, and it's title is... "We Had Everything But Money."
It is a truly inspirational book, especially in light of the times we are in and the fears we have about providing for our children.
I think the recent American Girl movie "Kitt Kittredge" also shows us how we can adapt and live well with less.
Life is not about what is happening in the Dow, or what size house or SUV we have, it is about the love we share on a daily basis. The stuff we NEED will be there in one way shape or form.
Take care!
idlehands