If you're like me, you're tired of hearing about the economy, tired of hearing about the stock market, tired of hearing about real estate, tired of hearing about layoffs, tired of hearing about Iraq, tired of hearing about what Barack Obama is having for breakfast, and so forth. These are dark, troubling times we live in, and the end of the tunnel doesn't appear to be anywhere in sight.
When the economy started to really tank in late September/early October, I think people were more shocked than anything. In my line of work, sales plummeted almost overnight. We scratched our heads, shrugged our shoulders, and then continued with our normal routines, assuming this was merely a momentary blip that would correct itself in a few weeks. Boy, were we wrong.
I can see economic troubles really starting to affect people. I, like many people, work for a company that has recently laid people off. Personally, I don't think we've seen the last of the layoffs in my company. I still feel safe, but I wonder what will happen to my friends. Members of my family are worried about their companies and their jobs. Some of my friends have been laid off from their jobs or their companies have gone out of business. I worry for them, too. I probably worry less than most people, though. I can tell that people are changing. They're being more cautious, and they seem less happy. If this means a permanent change in the way Americans manage their money, then it's a good thing. It's too bad that it couldn't have happened under more pleasant circumstances, though.
We all respond to this kind of stress differently. I wrote a few months ago about how I decided to turn off political talk radio and switch to Howard Stern and comedy instead. That continues to this day, and I'm still glad I made the switch. I've also cut way back on my news intake and the amount of time I spend reading two of my favorite publications, Fortune and The Wall Street Journal. There's only so much doom and gloom a person can take, and I got my fill a couple months ago. I've also been looking for lighter music. Right now, I can't get enough Jack Johnson. Anything he's recorded, anything on which he's appeared--I must have it all. I think the little lady thinks I've gone insane with this Jack Johnson kick, but I can't help it. It's laid back, generally positive, and it reminds me of being on vacation or on the beach. I can't think of a better distraction.
Shopping has also become a distraction. Shopping for clothes (dieting has made this a little more palatable), shopping for electronics, shopping for vacations, shopping for whatever. Feeling empty? Economy got you down? My advice to you is to buy more stuff. You'll be helping the economy and keeping soulless corporate stooges like me gainfully employed.
How are you responding to the stress and worries of our times? Any tips or strategies for coping? If so, please do share.
Profile
wisdom in 140 characters or less
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Yeah, as bad as it is, I typically respond to dark times by spending, too. I like to say it's my way of helping the economy. We'll see. Hopefully I stay employed and everything works out... I always feel guilty spending a lot of money when I know it's not the best time to be doing so.
ReplyDeleteMost recently, as I mentioned before, was the Sony 52" LCD tv that was $800 off. I also bought a new tripod and camera bag for the summer. Last, but not least, I found a guy selling the Canon EF 2x II teleconverter that turns my Canon 70-200 mm f/2.8 L IS lens into a 140-400 mm f/5.6 L IS used for $200. I couldn't pass it up.
We got $200 from my grandpa for our wedding, and we were anticipating buying a blu-ray player but the next day I received an email from the boss reminding us how bad we suck at making money this year so I stuck it in savings and will leave it there for a while.