As we trudge through our global financial upheaval, I find myself mentally listing things I can be grateful for:
1) The last time I had a new car to pay for was 1983, and I probably won't own one again
2) I have never found it necessary to own an SUV
3) I don't have a cell phone - just a prepaid phone for emergencies; no one has my number
4) I haven't found it necessary to own an ipod, a big-screen TV, name brand clothing
5) Ever since I was a child, I have been interested in making things out of discarded items
6) I dislike shopping
7) I prefer home cooking to fast foods
8) I prefer to stay home rather than travel
9) I don't like to carry large credit card balances
10) I am an optimist, so I tend to believe that things will improve with time
Does all this make me 'odd'? Well, others may think so, but over the years I came to recognize that 'things' don't make me happy. I also found that I sleep a whole lot better when I'm not tossing and turning, trying to figure out how to get out from under a mountain of debt.
My brother died back in 1987, and left my sister-in-law with over $11k in credit card debt. Funny thing, he really didn't know what all he had purchased to add up to that much. That gave me a wake-up call, and I began to pay more attention to my expenditures. My main reason for having a credit card is to handle emergency expenses, like car repairs or items purchased that are more money than I have available at the time to pay for it. But I also make large payments to pay off the balance as quickly as possible.
My hope is that the parents of today's children will teach them how to manage their money, how to budget, and how to get through life without having to buy everything they see advertised! We are a nation of consumers who have totally lost control, and it's time we all came to our senses and started saying 'no' to endless buying! Washington might not think that's the best idea, but I sure do...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Giving Thanks
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day to reflect on the things we have to be thankful for. I have many, many things I give thanks for today: A loving Creator, who has always given me what I need, who has been patient with me while I went through my wild, crazy days, and responded when I asked for help to get off the roller coaster and get on more stable footing; family, friends and a loving husband, who always seem to be there when I need them; a free nation, filled with fellow citizens who are all trying to make the best of this life we have been given; a form of government, which at times seems to be completely dysfunctional, but still beats any of the alternatives I have seen in our world; health, hope, joy, laughter.... the list goes on. My wish is for a world where we can all thrive and grow, not just those on the side of the aisle that share my political beliefs, but all of us. May we all try to remember to wish for the best in each other, and be thankful for what we have been given. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Words worth considering
Someone sent me a power point presentation today with words of wisdom, along with some beautiful pictures. One quote really caught my attention: "Open your arms to change but don't give up your values". That is so timely, what with all the rhetoric about 'Change' these days. We live in a world of change... often we need to make changes in our outlook or ideas to adapt to the external changes that swirl about us. But I couldn't agree more that it is vital that we hold on to our values, and find ways to cope with the things we can't change within the framework of our values.
I have written in previous posts about the values I hold dear. I am struggling with conflicting feelings about the government bailing out our financial institutions, the auto industry, etc., in an effort to stablize the global economy. First off, I think the time for government action is way overdue, but should have come in the form of basic legislation to prevent lenders from practices that are fiscally unsound. It makes no sense whatever to approve a loan to a borrower who does not have good credit. It is not only unhealthy for the lending institution, but it is insanity to put borrowers in a position where they will most likely default on the loan. I also think the borrowing public needs to take some responsibility for entering into risky loans. Living within our means is far better than taking out a loan with the hope that we will be able to repay it!
I am also trying to understand how the auto industry and their unions thought they could survive while driving the price of new vehicles so high that the average buyer could not even consider purchasing a new car these days! I'm driving around in a 13 year old vehicle for a good reason... there is no way I can see myself clear to put 20-30k into a vehicle! Not now, or anytime in my future. Therefore, I will continue to drive this vehicle until it dies, then will look for a used car to continue my journey.
Rather than seque into a rant about unions or minimum wage, suffice it to say that in my humble opinion, we as a nation need to divest ourselves of any unnecessary expenditures, tighten our belts, and learn to live with less while the globe reels from this certain resession... my hope is that once we have gotten through this era, that we learn something from it... quit putting ourselves in fiscal danger in order to 'own' things we really don't need... put some of our income aside to cover emergencies, and think real hard about how much we can afford to go in debt. Meanwhile, I can only hope and pray that those in the position of leading our country will rethink their values and act in a responsible and prudent manner as they go about the business of running our country. Mom always used to tell me I should learn from my mistakes so I don't have to keep repeating them... I sincerely hope our leaders follow that suggestion and stop practicing same s__t, different day!
I have written in previous posts about the values I hold dear. I am struggling with conflicting feelings about the government bailing out our financial institutions, the auto industry, etc., in an effort to stablize the global economy. First off, I think the time for government action is way overdue, but should have come in the form of basic legislation to prevent lenders from practices that are fiscally unsound. It makes no sense whatever to approve a loan to a borrower who does not have good credit. It is not only unhealthy for the lending institution, but it is insanity to put borrowers in a position where they will most likely default on the loan. I also think the borrowing public needs to take some responsibility for entering into risky loans. Living within our means is far better than taking out a loan with the hope that we will be able to repay it!
I am also trying to understand how the auto industry and their unions thought they could survive while driving the price of new vehicles so high that the average buyer could not even consider purchasing a new car these days! I'm driving around in a 13 year old vehicle for a good reason... there is no way I can see myself clear to put 20-30k into a vehicle! Not now, or anytime in my future. Therefore, I will continue to drive this vehicle until it dies, then will look for a used car to continue my journey.
Rather than seque into a rant about unions or minimum wage, suffice it to say that in my humble opinion, we as a nation need to divest ourselves of any unnecessary expenditures, tighten our belts, and learn to live with less while the globe reels from this certain resession... my hope is that once we have gotten through this era, that we learn something from it... quit putting ourselves in fiscal danger in order to 'own' things we really don't need... put some of our income aside to cover emergencies, and think real hard about how much we can afford to go in debt. Meanwhile, I can only hope and pray that those in the position of leading our country will rethink their values and act in a responsible and prudent manner as they go about the business of running our country. Mom always used to tell me I should learn from my mistakes so I don't have to keep repeating them... I sincerely hope our leaders follow that suggestion and stop practicing same s__t, different day!
Friday, November 7, 2008
"Waste not, want not...."
Boy, did I hear that saying a lot when I was growing up! Being a child of parents who grew up during the Great Depression, who had to squeeze every penny until it cried, I was schooled intensely on frugality. As a result, I do have a tendency to do without a lot of 'nice to haves' with very little difficulty. And because of that, even though our recent and current financial roller-coaster has been unsettling to say the least, I am probably not as stressed about it as a lot of folks who have followed "spend like there's no tomorrow" practices. While I was growing up, we had a lot of instances where if I wanted something, often I would have to sacrifice something else in order to get it, or do odd jobs to earn extra spending money. So that taught me that my time was worth something, but that I couldn't always have everything I wanted. Boy, has that been a valuable lesson! I drive a 13 year old car that probably gets better gas mileage than most cars half its age; I don't own an ipod or an i-anything... as a matter of fact, my car only has a radio! I have bypassed getting caught up in the trap of thinking I had to have something because everyone else did, so while I'm not totally debt-free, the debt I owe is manageable and represents purchases or services to cover needs, and very little in the 'wants' category. Do I feel sorry for myself? Not even close! I can sleep at night, not having to toss and turn wondering how I'm going to keep from having this reposessed, or that foreclosed on. I am not bragging here... but I continue to feel a great deal of gratitude for the lessons my parents taught me early on... they have been very beneficial to me, which is probably why I am trying to document them here, in the hopes that others may benefit as well.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
What matters to me
I woke up early this morning and the phrase 'core values' popped into my head. I began to compile a list, and here is what I have so far:
1) Freedom -- this is a gift we take for granted in this country, probably because we have had it for so long... I can't imagine life without it.
2) Honesty -- this attribute is so important, and yet it is something very difficult to practice as well as obtain from others. 'The truth will set you free' is an old adage that reminds me that if I am honest with myself and others, I will not be burdened with guilt, remorse, regret.
3) Independence -- I don't think it is possible, or even desirable to be 100% totally independent. However, I hold my independence very dear... to be able to stand on my own as much as possible, to possess a certain personal autonomy, is one of the greatest rewards I have been given in this life. I continue to depend on my Creator for strength and guidance, but He has blessed me with determination, courage and persistence, which has allowed me to achieve many things in my time.
4) Faith -- this is a gift that I was given well into my adulthood, and only after much struggle and resistance. I had to go through many painful experiences in my life before I accepted that I am not in charge, but I have a Creator who watches over us all. No, I am not going to go off on a tangent here... suffice it to say that this is a quality I embrace and I am grateful to have it.
5) Willingness -- I have found that if I am not willing to make an effort to achieve something, that I do not get very far in my endeavors. However, if I become willing to work hard, then I do get results. This seems like a pretty simple concept, but it took me quite a long time to realize it!
6) Good Health -- this is such a no-brainer, and yet so many of us take it for granted! I spent much of my young adult years totally ignoring what I was doing to myself with alcohol, tobacco, and other reckless pursuits... now I am at an age where I am fighting my weight, although not very diligently... and I remember my step-mom going through the same thing, and I tried to encourage her to exercise... these days, I walk almost every day, but haven't been to the gym in weeks! So I guess every age has it's battle... I hope to do better at maintaining my health as I go forward.
7) Friends -- true friends are few and far between, and I have learned over the years to cherish those I have and keep the ties strong, even though we have scattered in all directions. I am also working on building new friendships, because I have found that to have a friend one must be a friend... that requires effort, but it's like planting a seed... a little attention, and before you know it you have a thriving garden.
8) Respect -- self-respect and respect for others. By this, I mean treating with consideration, a quality we have far too little of today, in my opinion. This is something that is learned, we do not come into this world hard-wired for respect. So I must conclude that the lack of respect shown by people for others these days is due to poor upbringing.
9) Accountability -- willingness to take responsibility for one's actions. If we all practiced accountability a little more, and finger-pointing a little less, I think the world would be a happier place.
10) Civility -- this should be a no-brainer and goes along with respect. I find more and more these days that there is a glaring lack of civility among us... people rarely say 'excuse me' or 'pardon me' when passing in front of you at the store or interrupting you during a conversation. The other day I was at the grocery store and asked one of the employees about the availability of an item on the sale ad. She checked and came back to say they weren't ready yet, so I told her not to mind because I couldn't wait... she got very offensive and made derogatory remarks because I wasn't willing to stand around waiting for something that should have been on the shelf since the ad broke the day before. Amazing... My feeling is that it takes very little effort to act toward others in a civil manner, but fewer and fewer of us are willing to make that effort. That may be a contributing factor to the state of the world today... just a thought.
Well, there is a start on my list of what matters to me. I will be adding more to the list as I have time to ponder more...
1) Freedom -- this is a gift we take for granted in this country, probably because we have had it for so long... I can't imagine life without it.
2) Honesty -- this attribute is so important, and yet it is something very difficult to practice as well as obtain from others. 'The truth will set you free' is an old adage that reminds me that if I am honest with myself and others, I will not be burdened with guilt, remorse, regret.
3) Independence -- I don't think it is possible, or even desirable to be 100% totally independent. However, I hold my independence very dear... to be able to stand on my own as much as possible, to possess a certain personal autonomy, is one of the greatest rewards I have been given in this life. I continue to depend on my Creator for strength and guidance, but He has blessed me with determination, courage and persistence, which has allowed me to achieve many things in my time.
4) Faith -- this is a gift that I was given well into my adulthood, and only after much struggle and resistance. I had to go through many painful experiences in my life before I accepted that I am not in charge, but I have a Creator who watches over us all. No, I am not going to go off on a tangent here... suffice it to say that this is a quality I embrace and I am grateful to have it.
5) Willingness -- I have found that if I am not willing to make an effort to achieve something, that I do not get very far in my endeavors. However, if I become willing to work hard, then I do get results. This seems like a pretty simple concept, but it took me quite a long time to realize it!
6) Good Health -- this is such a no-brainer, and yet so many of us take it for granted! I spent much of my young adult years totally ignoring what I was doing to myself with alcohol, tobacco, and other reckless pursuits... now I am at an age where I am fighting my weight, although not very diligently... and I remember my step-mom going through the same thing, and I tried to encourage her to exercise... these days, I walk almost every day, but haven't been to the gym in weeks! So I guess every age has it's battle... I hope to do better at maintaining my health as I go forward.
7) Friends -- true friends are few and far between, and I have learned over the years to cherish those I have and keep the ties strong, even though we have scattered in all directions. I am also working on building new friendships, because I have found that to have a friend one must be a friend... that requires effort, but it's like planting a seed... a little attention, and before you know it you have a thriving garden.
8) Respect -- self-respect and respect for others. By this, I mean treating with consideration, a quality we have far too little of today, in my opinion. This is something that is learned, we do not come into this world hard-wired for respect. So I must conclude that the lack of respect shown by people for others these days is due to poor upbringing.
9) Accountability -- willingness to take responsibility for one's actions. If we all practiced accountability a little more, and finger-pointing a little less, I think the world would be a happier place.
10) Civility -- this should be a no-brainer and goes along with respect. I find more and more these days that there is a glaring lack of civility among us... people rarely say 'excuse me' or 'pardon me' when passing in front of you at the store or interrupting you during a conversation. The other day I was at the grocery store and asked one of the employees about the availability of an item on the sale ad. She checked and came back to say they weren't ready yet, so I told her not to mind because I couldn't wait... she got very offensive and made derogatory remarks because I wasn't willing to stand around waiting for something that should have been on the shelf since the ad broke the day before. Amazing... My feeling is that it takes very little effort to act toward others in a civil manner, but fewer and fewer of us are willing to make that effort. That may be a contributing factor to the state of the world today... just a thought.
Well, there is a start on my list of what matters to me. I will be adding more to the list as I have time to ponder more...
Monday, November 3, 2008
'Don't be a sheep'
One of the things I heard a lot from my parents while growing up was 'don't be a sheep'. As a child, I had a tendency to want to go along with the crowd... pretty typical for a youngster who has not yet learned to think for herself. I didn't have a lot of confidence in myself, and was very much in need of approval from my peers, so i definitely wanted to fit in. However, I was blessed with parents who definitely wanted to make sure I learned to think for myself. They did a lot to shape my values and help me to learn right from wrong, and they made me learn to make my own decisions, and accept the consequences.
Unfortunately, in today's world I think that too many people still go along with the crowd... no questions asked, no thought given to whether they are buying in to a sales pitch, or due to wishful thinking and denial, they are being duped. Maybe I'm being too skeptical, but I see what appears to be a large chunk of the populace taking the easy way out, and it concerns me greatly.
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong age... should have been here in the 1800's, living out on the prairie, dealing with survival issues. Our era seems to put way too much value on 'talking points' and the massive bombardment of the media... letting them do the thinking for us. I think it's time we turned off the media and started doing a little personal soul-searching to see what we really believe in, and identify the things we think are truly important in life. Then maybe we can come up with some thoughtful, informed ideas about the direction we should be taking in this country. In the meantime, I think we are headed for some serious problems, and we have nothing but sheep to lead us out of the darkness into the light. Baaaa....Baaaa...
Unfortunately, in today's world I think that too many people still go along with the crowd... no questions asked, no thought given to whether they are buying in to a sales pitch, or due to wishful thinking and denial, they are being duped. Maybe I'm being too skeptical, but I see what appears to be a large chunk of the populace taking the easy way out, and it concerns me greatly.
Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong age... should have been here in the 1800's, living out on the prairie, dealing with survival issues. Our era seems to put way too much value on 'talking points' and the massive bombardment of the media... letting them do the thinking for us. I think it's time we turned off the media and started doing a little personal soul-searching to see what we really believe in, and identify the things we think are truly important in life. Then maybe we can come up with some thoughtful, informed ideas about the direction we should be taking in this country. In the meantime, I think we are headed for some serious problems, and we have nothing but sheep to lead us out of the darkness into the light. Baaaa....Baaaa...
Sunday, November 2, 2008
"Do Unto others..."
This was a saying I heard a lot when I was growing up. At first, I didn't understand what it meant... I had a tendency to react without thinking of the consequences, either to myself or to others. Someone did something I didn't like, I would lash out at them. I remember once my brother was teasing me... I was somewhere around 9 or 10 at the time, and he loved to tease me. Anyway, I got mad at him and doused him with a glass of ginger ale, which also went all over my Great Grandmother's wall, her couch... what a mess! I learned the hard way that it doesn't pay to react violently or there will be the piper to pay!
When my husband and I lived in Southern California, I found that the phenomenon of too many people trying to occupy the same space at the same time resulted quite often in road rage. It's almost impossible to drive within the speed limit there, or you are in danger of being run off the road! A valuable lesson I learned was to move to the slow lane and hopefully let all the speeders by without incident. Do Unto Others...
I am concerned about how, in our current age, people seem to have forgotten this simple premise in their daily lives. There is so much anger, lack of consideration, lack of respect for others. I know we can't all agree on everything, but it seems to me that we could do a lot better at trying to work together, to try to open our minds to different ideas. Giving thought to what we really believe in, then giving thought to how those beliefs compare to the beliefs of others. In a future post, I plan to outline my basic beliefs. Most of these beliefs are based on things I was taught as a child, and most of them still hold true for me. Until then, I hope your day and week go well!
When my husband and I lived in Southern California, I found that the phenomenon of too many people trying to occupy the same space at the same time resulted quite often in road rage. It's almost impossible to drive within the speed limit there, or you are in danger of being run off the road! A valuable lesson I learned was to move to the slow lane and hopefully let all the speeders by without incident. Do Unto Others...
I am concerned about how, in our current age, people seem to have forgotten this simple premise in their daily lives. There is so much anger, lack of consideration, lack of respect for others. I know we can't all agree on everything, but it seems to me that we could do a lot better at trying to work together, to try to open our minds to different ideas. Giving thought to what we really believe in, then giving thought to how those beliefs compare to the beliefs of others. In a future post, I plan to outline my basic beliefs. Most of these beliefs are based on things I was taught as a child, and most of them still hold true for me. Until then, I hope your day and week go well!
What's it all about?
Hello. I have decided to branch out, and start a blog of writings about my thoughts on life, values, the world, where I came from... you name it! This is something I have wanted to do for quite awhile, but never seemed to have time for. Well, time marches on, and I think there is no better time to do this than now!
We are 2 days from our next Presidential election, and this has been one of the most interesting election seasons, albeit the LONNNNNNNGEST, that I can remember! On the one hand, I am thrilled that so many people have taken an interest. Apathy is something I have feared for a long time... apathy means people just don't care enough about what's going on to be bothered to study the issues, and go stand in line to cast their vote. That's how people get into office that really don't belong there... no one cares enough to stand up and support the other guy. I don't think we can say that is the case this year!
On the other hand, I see a lot of evidence that we are still suffering from massive hostility between the two parties. I have seen large numbers of blog postings that radiate hate and disharmony... Lord, how I miss civil discourse, with facts to back up statements! I really miss William F. Buckley, Jr., who in my opinion was one of the great debaters of my time!
But I digress.... I really don't want this blog to be about politics, which I hate! I want it to be about the things I hold dear, and why. So, for anyone who has stumbled upon this blog, stay tuned... I hope to make this a pleasant, thought-provoking place to visit. More later...
We are 2 days from our next Presidential election, and this has been one of the most interesting election seasons, albeit the LONNNNNNNGEST, that I can remember! On the one hand, I am thrilled that so many people have taken an interest. Apathy is something I have feared for a long time... apathy means people just don't care enough about what's going on to be bothered to study the issues, and go stand in line to cast their vote. That's how people get into office that really don't belong there... no one cares enough to stand up and support the other guy. I don't think we can say that is the case this year!
On the other hand, I see a lot of evidence that we are still suffering from massive hostility between the two parties. I have seen large numbers of blog postings that radiate hate and disharmony... Lord, how I miss civil discourse, with facts to back up statements! I really miss William F. Buckley, Jr., who in my opinion was one of the great debaters of my time!
But I digress.... I really don't want this blog to be about politics, which I hate! I want it to be about the things I hold dear, and why. So, for anyone who has stumbled upon this blog, stay tuned... I hope to make this a pleasant, thought-provoking place to visit. More later...
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