Several members of my family are seriously disturbed by the economic downturn, close to freaking out, I'd say. We watch our nest eggs shrink day by day. One or two family members are quite concerned that they will lose their jobs. I'm concerned, too, but there's not much I can do to turn the economy around. We're headed for difficult times, but I know that many will be, and indeed already are, much worse off than we are.
My thought, which I expressed to Grandpère, is that we have no choice but to go through the bad times. Our only choice is to decide how we will live through the economic woes. We can try to do it with a measure of grace and dignity and with care and concern for those who are worse off than we are, or we can bitch and moan and cry out, "Woe is me!" over and over. Go through the tough times we will anyway, so let's do it with a bit of class. GP is not impressed by my thought.
I agree with you Grandmere Mimi,
ReplyDeleteI had not started taking any money ourt of my annuities yet, and now when the statement comes I cannot bring myself to open the envelope. The value of our home has decreased by who knows how much. But ..., I, my family, so many of us, are fortunate in so many ways. It is easier to whine than it is to have hope, but I choose to have hope. I have a grateful heart for so many of life's blessings.
Beryl, GP is not especially religious, so I did not state my thought in faith words, just words that all could relate to - or not. Of course, I like your faith words better, because it is my faith that gives me hope.
ReplyDeleteMimi,
ReplyDeleteHere is a thought. Form a province and then offer asylum to those parishes that need help -- of course there will be an assessment for you and Granpere and all the travel that will be necessary. That should bolster your nest egg a little.
Just thought I could be of help.
Fred, that is brilliant. Of course, neither GP nor I have clergy credentials, but we could, rather quickly, get a degree from an online "seminary", which would serve the purpose.
ReplyDeleteAssessments! Travel! Bigger nest egg! Whoo-hoo! Sounds good to me.
I've been finding the financial crisis rather interesting, because it doesn't seem to be affecting me much yet.
ReplyDeleteAt a time when most people are worried about their jobs and cutting back spending, I seem to keep getting more (paying) students, to the point that my schedule is full and I have had to turn some away.
I've had to undergo changes in standard of living before. Moving from Canada (where I did not consider our family particularly well-off, but where we certainly did not live in poverty) to the UK (where I am not particularly poor, but certainly not well-off by most standards) has been an interesting change: things that are cheap here are expensive in Canada and things cheap there are expensive here and I had to make some changes. And now my health isn't what it used to be and I find that's expensive, too: things I used to be able to save money on, I can't now because my body won't let me. Annoying, but I've had to make some changes, and I'm still mostly alright. And I think I could live much more frugally than I do, if I weren't trying to do a full-time degree; time is money and I simply haven't got a whole lot of time right now. We had some inflation and food is a bit more expensive now than it was, but I can still afford quite good quality food.
What scares me is the thought of the NHS collapsing and having to pay outright for healthcare. As a self-employed freelance musician with many pre-existing conditions, I'm sure I would find it difficult to get insurance.
Song, health insurance is a grave concern for those who lose their jobs here in the US. There is no safety net for health care, except treatment in an emergency room when things get bad enough.
ReplyDeleteOne of my family members tried to start a small business, and was doing fairly well for an upstart, but then he developed high blood pressure and his private insurance policy premiums shot up to the point where he couldn't afford to pay them any longer. He was offered a job with health care benefits and had to take it. He's now concerned that he may be laid off.
Mimi, I'm impressed. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things in this country (and the whole world) that need fixing, but I think universal health care is a good place to start. Because if you don't have to worry about medical care, then the concept of losing your job isn't nearly as scary. And you don't have to worry about being bankrupted by a catastrophic health problem. I really believe that if we could solve this one thing, we could weather whatever else is coming without so much fear.
PJ, I absolutely agree! I think of the many small businesses that were never started or those nipped in the bud because of the lack of health care benefits. Those businesses might have grown to employ others, many others, if it were not for the impossible burden of providing health care to their employees early on. I hope and pray that Obama means it when he ways he will move forward to provide universal health care.
ReplyDeleteWord to GP--Chill. Mimi knows whereof she speaks (but, GP already knows that). That's one of the main reasons he loves and respects you so much, Mimi--your classy optimism!
ReplyDeleteCrapaud, thanks for the kind words. I've already told GP to chill, but he won't listen.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes on National Health Care -- I had to stay in a job I absolutely hated for the 2 1/2 years from diagnosis until my late husband died because I could not dare to risk losing the health insurance.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to figure out how to continue charitable giving on recently diminished income. There are two local groups that really depend on our contributions and I can't bear the thought of letting them down. We are eating differently (although just as healthily) and have cancelled vacation plans except for visiting grandkids and that is by car rather than plane -- which is almost an improvement given the non-joys of air travel these days.
I don't know what the point of whining would be -- unlikely to make the economy improve and would also make me feel worse. It really doesn't require a lot of theology -- just makes sense. I mean, why would I do something that would raise my blood pressure.
It really doesn't require a lot of theology -- just makes sense. I mean, why would I do something that would raise my blood pressure.
ReplyDeleteSusanKay, of course! Have you looked around and seen the number of people who do not choose to be sensible?
grandmere,
ReplyDeleteI imagine that most of us have begun to do some serious reflection on our material security (those of us who have some, anyway). It struck me yesterday that our two generations are the first in human history anywhere to be able to expect what we now call "retirement". A general "pillaging of the planet" has made this possible for two generations. Did we expect too much, I wonder? Someone we all know pointed to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field with regard to this subject. He didn't point to "a richer, more secure nation abroad." Just musing...
Mimi, I have often observed that a prophetess is not without honor save in her own household.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking along similar lines. On the one hand, our net worth (value of house + retirement accounts) has fallen drastically over the past year and a half, and we are past normal retirement age so we don't have time to make it up through market recovery. On the other hand, when I assess the resources we still have and compare them with what our grandparents were living on a century ago or what the great majority of people around the world have available to them today, I can't view our situation as catastrophic. And as you say, why moan and groan about it? No fun in that! Let's let the shortages draw us closer to one another and to all our fellow creatures.
Did we expect too much, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteScott, I believe we did. My only security now is my trust in the Lord to be with me whatever comes.
How secure are the pensions? We're in for a world-shaking experience, IMHO.
I can't view our situation as catastrophic.
ReplyDeleteNor can I view ours as catastrophic, Mary Clara. Compared to many in the world, we are rich.
Let's let the shortages draw us closer to one another and to all our fellow creatures.
Indeed! Perhaps we can move closer to a sense of community and common good and away from the "I'll get mine and the hell with you" rugged individualism.
I´m IN! Count me in...yes, and the everyday reality that I see around me is that it feels rather peaceful, just and right to start to help others even more than before (besides, selfpity is sooo tacky)!
ReplyDeleteHere we go!
I´m IN!
Thanks, Grandmère Mimi
We are rather insulated from all of the news here. The government here is predicting growth for the next year, that's kind of hard to believe based on what we are seeing and hearing.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the global economy is set for an overdue correction and we are going to be in the middle of it. We have to work together, across borders, for the good of the planet. The Chinese understand working for the common good, we (US) could learn from them.
I try to be sanguine about it all but as I look at the parish deficit, know in my bones where the effects will be felt.... All I hope is that my parents can live out the measure of their days in comfort and without worry.
ReplyDeleteLeo, glad to have you on board. Having written this post, I'll have to be on constant guard about bitching and moaning myself.
ReplyDeleteSara, I don't know. The US and Europe buy a lot of goods from China, and with the recession, I don't see how the same level of purchasing can continue.
Caminante, the church budgets will suffer greatly. I, too, pray that your parents won't be greatly affected by the downturn.
grandmere,
ReplyDeletemy two-piano four-hand shrink friend is preparing a room for me in the midst of this...i didn't ask...he offered... and there is much more to that than "that"...I think Mary Clara has it right....and...look at all your friends here! That's pretty special.
Scott, I am rich in friends, thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteMimi,
ReplyDeletewhich thought is GP not impressed with? What, precisely, is he proposing to do instead of trying to get through a situation outside your control as calmly as possible?
Erika, he will bitch and moan.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with your thought.
ReplyDeleteRick, thank you. Today GP spent the day gathering income tax records, another reason to bitch and moan. He admits he's a complainer, but he won't take the next step.
ReplyDelete