In my lifetime, none of the doom and gloom that has become daily news has ever been so prevalent or discouraging. Namely, the economic crisis that is as gray and beaten as February's dirty snow. Another announcement from the CEO of my organization where I work made hearts fall and fears peak as looming deficits eat away at resources and hinted layoffs lurk behind closed door meetings of important suits who decide individuals fates and futures.
This seems to have become a bread and butter staple of daily diet. Bad news, fearful buzzing gossip as everyone weighs his or her value in the hierarchy of importance and asks nagging, repetitive, nervous questions like "are you keeping busy?" It is a dog eat dog world when it comes down to it. The veiled civilities become thinner and thinner when rumors become reality and then survival just kicks in full force.
One thing that is hard to do is forget all your worries and cares when you go home and get away from the gossip, the worries and the empty useless hypotheses. So, how do you do it? Have a survivors mentality. Think about worst case scenarios for a second and then put those thoughts out of your mind because after all you can't control the uncontrollable. Rally. Remember what is important in life: people, relationships, sharing experiences, spirituality, education, being vital in your community. None of these things have a price tag. So much of American culture is built around consumerism; however, you don't have to fall for it. Maybe stimulating the economy means buying in order to get the machine running again. It is hard to believe that a whole country fails based on yours and mine's spending habits. While we wait to find out if our jobs will still be there, so that we can pay for the necessities of life, a stimulus package is being formulated to give Americans a few bucks to supposedly go out and spend on luxuries.
I am holding on to my few dollars with tight fists, but if you are going to spend that hard earned money, give it to something you know will make a direct difference to a life, a family and a livelihood. Don't throw your precious money at corporate conglomerates, but keep small businesses from going under.
Check out these small business ventures!
www.modernbean.etsy.com
www.lapetitechouchou.etsy.com
www.newamsterdam.etsy.com
Saw your books on Etsy, been reading [I can't post there because I don't sell and I guess they thought I was from somewhere, who knows] but anyway,
ReplyDeleteI've been keeping up with the CPSIA, many are dead on correct in the dangers regarding the books,
please whatever you do do NOT destroy them, especially any that have comparisons of times past/historical, etc., classics especially. This law is so much more dangerous than many want to think even with the stay,
I'm encouraging people to not just purchase rare children's books [and rare controversial books period because I'm sure they'll be next to target] but also,
learn them, memorize them, if need be. If books can't be accessed by children [books prior to 1985] that includes books such as Anne Frank's Diary or books from other children, who have written/drew artworks, etc.,
or classics by Tolkien or Lewis or Dickens. Or rare classics, that are rarely even read today but that are extremely powerful, imagine if these books were no more, in two generations? If all children/people had was what the STATE allowed them to read...something to seriously think about.
you don't need to post this up on the blog, just thought I'd share it. Pass it forward.