Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Last year was memorable. It was a year when climate change and the President of the United States appeared to have teamed up to provide regular everyday citizens with more than they ever bargained for. It was a year when Christians, Jews and Arabs were basically trying to eliminate each other from this worldly existence in spite of the fact that each religion calls for love and peace.

Today (well, recently) the stock market has fallen to inexplicable lows. Seems like the majority of the lenders (crooks) in this country went against prudent rules and caused the death of our real estate. The house you and I have lived in before creative financing set in lost at least 1/3rd of its value, through no fault of our own. The auto industry, a giant in its time, has failed because of stupidity. I am not a historian, but to me it seems like the decline and fall of governments and civilizations (the Romans, the Maya, the Egyptians, the Turks, the Persians, the British, the French, the Nazis, the Bolshevics,) have all been caused for one reason—the rot at the top. The good news is, that leaves most of us out of the causing and opens the door to solutions.

I wish I knew what that solution is!

Perhaps if we could have managed these problems, we wouldn’t have botched it up so profoundly. It is comforting that while life continues to become more complex on a global basis, it is still possible in our personal and professional lives to center on our values and goals, assess our strengths and weaknesses, and not allow the problems thrust upon us to swallow us up.

All of us can’t have 40 acres and a mule, an ax, and a rifle. We must start over with what we do have. Hopefully, in the bag of tricks that you have, (besides a partner who cares for you, and children who are healthy) you have a strong back and a will to win. Hard and difficult times bring forth tough and versatile people. The American Dream was not thought out during times of plenty or justice. “Summer soldiers and sunshine patriots” existed during the 1700’s, but that didn’t stop Americans who put it all on the line for independence by sacrificing and winning the chance for themselves and us, their descendants, to be able to work out of a mess, and in a bloodless manner (for us, not for them).

Sometimes, there is no way around a problem except through it. By now, all of us should have a healthy sense of skepticism. We are not fish, ready to bite on any bait or promises from politicians. All of the technology gained in the last 25 years is not for nothing. We need to use it in a positive manner. We need to ask our children to become either entrepreneurs, or if they are still at home, to be of benefit to the family in other ways. Empty nest? Give support and encouragement to your “independent” children. (Get even with them—move into their house). Bad as times may become, we don’t live in shanties next to the garbage dump. Our problems with obesity might actually be solved if a few meals are skipped.

Think of it as the Game of Life, or Monopoly, which it is.

There is no Get Out of Jail Free card. But the opportunity and possibility to Pass Go, and Collect $200, still exists and will soon come around for us again.