Where Are We? What Do We Do Next?

I know I'm only one of millions who feel life as we know it is gone forever. Unfortunately it doesn't make me feel any better knowing that so many of you are in the same boat with me. We work hard all our life, always trying to do the right thing, and one day life as we knew it just disappeared, gone, never to return again, at least that's how we feel. I'm an eternal optimist, the glass has always been half-full for me. So how do we stay optimistic when we've lost everything? I have struggled with that question every day for the last 2 1/2 years. I am one of the ones who lost everything; job, home, savings, credit. If I had not met and married my husband last year, I would be on the street. So that makes me one of the lucky survivors. I know that I have to trust that although life will never "look" like it did pre-recession (I say depression) I have to have hope that the fact that I am living through it will make me stronger on the other side. To help me get through it I decided I needed to give more, yes give. So I started writing a weekly post to people I knew or had the opportunity to reach out to. Just words of encouragement. Something to help me and them get through these tough times. So, I would like to share one with you. I hope you enjoy reading it.


When is Enough Enough?

What's the first thing you think of when you read this question?........... Does your mind go to the material things? Your possessions, your stuff? If your answer is yes then guess what, I'll bet you already passed the enough line and you're headed straight for the excess goal post. To you it might look like you scored a touchdown, but in reality you just threw the game. It's not about how much you have, it's about how much you give! 

There was a time when you didn't buy it if you couldn't pay cash for it. Then came the credit card, and along with it a false sense that we could have anything we wanted. And so we indulged. For the last 20 years we have lived like the money tree was in the back yard. From the nice car, to the big house, to the walk in closets and 50 pair of shoes (modest estimate, right ladies?). And you guys aren't off the hook either. From expensive watches to Ping golf clubs (when a Timex or a set of clone clubs would have been just as good). My point being that in all these examples, we could have done with less. Many of us lived the life of indulgence until the plug was pulled, not by choice either I might add.We are all guilty to some degree. I want to encourage you now, whether you are a statistic in this depression or one of the lucky ones that's still doing well, take a look at how much you really need.  Take a real look at what you can still do for others. Clean out the pantry of the items you know you will never use (we all have some) and take them to a local church or food bank. If you don't want to go that far just look around you, you probably have more than at least one neighbor who would be very grateful to get the items.Reduce your closet and shoe box by just 20% and donate the items.  You'll be surprised how much good you can do and you honestly won't miss it. 

 Share, even when you don't think you can. Trust me, we can all give just a little; it's like jello, there's always room. It will make your heart lighter to do something good for someone and it will truly make someone else's burden a little lighter even if it's just for a moment.                                              

WE DON'T NEED 'MORE' TO BE THANKFUL FOR........ WE NEED TO BE MORE THANKFUL.