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Location: Michigan | I work as a sales rep in Michigan for an automotive supply company that I have been with for 33 years. I have been fortunate to do financially well for many years but this new decade is fastly erasing the gains I have made in the past and shows no signs of recovering in my work era ( 5 years ).I have never seen anything like this in my life.Everybody that I talk to is in a Super Depression Mode over everything from hating their jobs or being in fear of losing their jobs or never ever getting back to the times of making the same money that they did 10 years ago.
I have never ever seen this kind of STRESS around people that I have know in my 53 years on this planet.
Anyone else seeing this ???
Maybe its just me.GWB |
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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Not around here but we have defence & insurence here
as major industry. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Don't fret GWB... It gets Better!
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Posts: 5575
Location: big island | enter the next puppet. as planned by the CFR. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | My wife just lost her job of 19 years, with no more that a wave goodbye at the end. No severance, no nothing. No worries though, it only puts about an 80 grand debit in our yearly income. There may be some guitars on the block in the coming year. |
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February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | Well... YES
The company that my wife and I both work at announced that they were closing the doors and moving their operations to Kansas. This after a nearly 2 yr stint as a start up with mega hours of salary OT to get this thing off the ground.
No way we're going to Kansas so it is start over again.
So, other than that and my son starting college next fall, I'm good.
(Yeah I'm good, I'm good, I'm good) |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Arthur, apparently you don't follow the economy much, or you would know the last 5 years have been record breakers for the good in so many ways.
I'm always amused when people think having liberals in power is going to improve things economically, when it's been the opposite for the last 30 years. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Don't underestimate how much your environment contributes to your depression. With all due respect GWB, it's December and you live in Michigan. Seriously, you might want to consider cutting your loses and move to a bright sunny climate. I did it 15 years ago and it literally saved my life. There's no way I would be here today, or at least be the happy person that I am today, had I not recognized it and got the hell out of a similarly cold dark place. Don't get me wrong, I have at LEAST as much stress now as I had back then. I have no job security what so ever, work in an extremely volatile industry, and I'm financially over extended in all kinds of directions. BUT, something about seeing blue skies and sunshine every day just makes it all OK. I call it "stress with a sun tan."
If you think the government is responsible for your stress and depression you are wrong. And if you think a change in government is going to make it go away you are similarly wrong. People need to take responsibility for their own mental well being. It starts with taking a critical inventory of what is important to you and what is not. What do you need, what do you not need. What are the things that will truely make you feel happy and then GO FOR IT. We're fucking 50 years old, man! TWO decades (maybe) of quality life left! There is no time to sit around and hope that it'll get better on it's own. 'Cuz it WON'T. Just my 2c.
Dave |
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Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | NO POLITICS PLEASE |
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Posts: 430
Location: Lebanon, TN | The older I get and having been through a few, now, everything economic, political and mass culture is cyclical. Not just in terms of natural patterns, but more action and reaction seeming to be the human instinct. Even clothing fashion runs around with my daughter wearing clothes now that my wife and mother would have worn in 60's and 70's.
For anyone over the age of 35, we have all been here before, there are always portents of doom. The 1980's were my entering adult hood phase. Aged 19 I had been let go from 3 jobs in 9 months due to ecconomic downsizing. I finally entered nursing school to escape the economic disasters and managed to survive and thrive into the thatcher boom era in the 80's.
Funny thing is I discussed this all with my mum and she said..."Son you should have felt what it was like in Oct 1962 . I was 6 months married, just turned 20, and 7 months pregnant carrying you when Kruschev starts banging his shoe and we all thought nuclear missiles were going to come raining down on our heads bring the world to an apocalyptic fiery end. Those were darker days than I have ever seen and affected a great many peopl. Funnily enough though, after the cuban missile crisis everyone was ready for a little 60's free love and spirit!"
On a personal note my sympathies to everyone who faces the loss of earnings and livelihood at this time of year. It is a damned shame so many corporate fiscal calendars make it inevitable that cuts are being made right around what should be the happiest, and yet is often the darkest period of the year for many.
Now to the passing of the Bush dynasty and the likely coming Democratic Express inbound....if you had lived in a real "socialist revolution" and a bad economy like I did through the 1970's in the UK you would have nothing to complain about with your Liberal 'Lights' (aka the Democrats) Believe me they are no where near as extreme as you might fear lacking any real phiosophical underpinnings to their liberalism.
I will leave you with some words of encouragement from Robert Burns....It comes from the second verse of "A Man's a Man for A'that"
What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hoddin grey, an' a' that
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine
A man's a man, for a' that
For a' that, an' a' that
Their tinsel show an' a' that
The honest man, though e'er sae poor
Is king o' men for a' that
Slainthe! |
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Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | I'm with Dave on how your own environment is the biggest contributor to mental state. Actually I agree with his whole statement. The tough part is that sometimes the changes that need to be made to fix the problems are just impossible to implement. That's that feeling of being "trapped" that I'm sure all of us married folks get from time to time. I know I do - with kids heading to college, mortgage, cars and all of the other responsibilities - it can get overwhelming. The mood or demeanor of your spouse can make ALL the difference in the world as well.
As Dave said - find what makes you happy and go for it - even if it's something relatively small - like a new guitar, or a weekend trip, whatever it is. |
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Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | God is in control and that's a fact.
Pauly
OK now we have gone from Politics to religion, so back to the Fender oops Ovation guitars we love to hear and talk about. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Let me tell you about my last 2 weeks. I had a car accident, first one in my life (I'm fine)Got
laid off after 29 years! 2 days before I got laid off I find out I have $6500.00 of dental work that needs to be done NOW or I will have some major problems soon (Due to past medical situation not lack of care). Sunday my computer crashes, I go to bring it to a friend who has the abiliites and equipment to fix the problem and as I am walking down from my 3rd floor apt I
slip/trip and drop my PC down 2 flights of stairs! CRASH! I now no longer need my friend to fix the PC it's in the trash. So,$486.00 later I
now have a new PC!. So, yeah, I'm stressing a bit, but, I have most of my health, I have my son and things can't get much worse, only better, right?? I'm still better off then 90% of the rest of the inhabitants on the hunk of rock! Oh, and my "O" sounds better and better everytime I play it. So thing are going to improve. HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all!!! |
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Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I also live in Michigan. It's extremely depressing to see what is happening to our economy. What is even more agrivating is the attitude of many of our fellow Americans that if Michigan would only get it's shit together our problems would be solved.
The fifty states are like baby birds in a nest, all-too willing to kick out the weaker sibling so that more food can be obtained. The states of the U.S. are literally economicly fighting and consuming each other. All in the name of profit and free markets.
Many don't seem to understand that the problems are complex and costly to resolve, that there are multitudes of retirees depending on pensions and contracts, that there are laws and court challenges that impede almost all proposed reforms, and that the government in Michigan is doing the best that it can with very difficult problems. Much of Michigan's burden are due to older retired people who rely on union pensions, and to a great extent on Medicaid (State funds) because Medicare (Federal funds) refuses to provide coverage and deliver on past promises. I wish we could pack up all our old people and send them to the sun belt (along with our jobs) but that just ain't gonna happen.
I equate Michigan's circumstances to being hit with an economic "Katrina". But there is no FEMA or Federal government help for us. Meanwhile much of the rest of the U.S. continues to buy Hondas and Toyotas while wagging their collective finger at us saying we are stupid and incompetent. It's all our fault.
My feeling is that Michigan is in the van-guard of a long slow economic decline that will sooner or later hit the entire United States. Do the math, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, there is no middle ground (or it is rapidly receding). True, we the priviledged middle class can purchase a Chinese DVD player at Walmart for $50, but can we afford to put our kids through college? Can we afford our own health care independant of our employers? Can we afford to retire and provide for ourselves without becoming a burden on our children or on the rest of society?
We are being sold out. That's my rant. Thanks. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Times were hard for me during the Viet Nam conflict, not unlike it is for families with loved ones in uniform today, and I had a tough time saying goodbye to my young kids in the 1980's when they moved to California with their mother following our divorce. It hurts, adjustments are made, time heals, and life goes on. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Brian, I did not mean to speak negatively about Michigan. Sorry if it sounded that way. My only point was (from personal experience) that a dark cold winter tends to play mind games with you. For me, what were managable problems in July can seem like insurmountable problems in January.
Dave |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I hate to jump on Dave's bandwagon, but I'm already there. The rest of my family lives in Portland and every one of them has had depression problems in the winter. My dad was able to get off med when he started going down to Arizona every winter. The short hours and sitting in front of a computer or TV all day gets everyone down.
My daughter is enroute to California for about the 4th time in the last 6 months, this time supposedly to move there permanently. We think it's the biggest mistake of her life, but it's hers. Helplessness is depressing. We need to do something about whatever we can fix and get past what we can't fix. Spring will come. Meanwhile, go play in the snow. |
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Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | SADS
and the economy are 2 different issues |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I don't know if I have any particularly valuable insights here, but each time I look in the mirror I see a few more gray hairs in my beard, so I guess that counts for something. So, here's my $0.02:
1) Shit happens. That's life. How things work out for you is 99% a function of your attitude and your attitude is 100% under your control. The simple way of saying that is "If you think you will win, you will win. If you think you will lose, you will lose."
2) No matter what is going on, there is always someone with money who still has wants and needs. You want money? Good. Go sell something to a rich guy and you'll get money.
3) The thing that you fear the most is a thousand times worse in theory than it is in reality.
4) Singing and playing your guitar with your kids makes everything better. Everytime. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | You always hear that old addage:
"Enjoy Your Life . . tomorrow you could get hit by a bus".
Last year, a co-worker of mine walked out of the Javits Center here in Manhattan, stepped off the curb, . . . and was killed by a bus.
Kinda' puts things in perspective when it hits that close . . . |
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Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Dave, as you are probably aware, there is substantial empirical evidence available regarding the relationship between sunlight, or lack thereof, and one's perception of comfort, happiness, satisfaction and stress. |
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Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | Sorry Dave, I did not mean to target my rant at you. I agree with you about sunshine and nice weather, it certainly does affect one's mood. You are fortunate.
The problem with re-location it that it is usually only the fairly prosperous, or the young and un-encumbered that have the option of moving to more attractive climates. That leaves the more needy and tied-down people behind to further tax an already overstressed system.
I have been giving some serious thought to relocating, particularly for my children's sake. But with all the complications and costs it doesnt seem very do-able at this time, but who knows, maybe someday.
But remember all you folks living in the southwest, when your water dries up and your cities can no longer function we have plenty of abundent water up here in the cold, grey great lakes states! Just move your households and jobs back up here and you can have all the water you want. |
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Location: closely held secret | I definitely battle stress and depression this time of year. I get up when it's dark, drive 50 miles to work in the dark, work in a room with no windows and drive home in the dark. On good days it's not raining.
But I have way too many blessings in my life to get too seriously down. All I need to do is focus on those.
"No, No, they can't take that away from me." :D |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | I wasn't trying to pimp the southwest. Btw - I went to bus. school in Ann Arbor! Just pointing out that you need to seperate the various sources of stress. Some you can control, some you can't. Environment is a big part of it. Economy is another. Family situation. Etc. etc. There are things you can NOT control. So don't lose sleep over those. Put your energy into the things that you can do to effect change. Dave |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Recently I spoke with the an official at the Social Security administration, and indeed michigan's economy is down, probably on a state wide level, the worst in the country. And from what the experts at work, say it's the same for parts of New York State where the industries have totally hollowed out. Other parts of the state like NYC, are going gangbusters thanks to real estate, medicine, education and finance, just like other parts of the country are doing great.
They tell me, these trends will continue, until the bubble that's formed in the places that are doing great, burst, then we'll all be the dumper. No one knows when the bubble will pop, could be next year or 30 years from now. So the southwest will get there's someday it's just a matter of when. Maybe they'll run of water, and NYC every once in a while goes into the dumper, so it's guaranteed for us.
Realistically, if you are in good health, you can work till your 72 full time, and part time to 77. After that, it's time to go. If you are doing good financially in Mich, take advantage of it, if it's not working out, look someplace else, 'cause it's not going to get better. I emphasize with the pain of the people in Mich, and similarly affected areas. IMO, our society is changing, especially over the last 20 years, I wish I knew how it was going to turn out.
Life's not fair. Just look at the subprime mortgage mess, the banks gave mortgages to people who couldn't afford them, they repackaged the loans and sold them. The people can't pay, the banks can't pay the interest on the securities to the bond holders. The bond holders want their money, the banks get permission from the government to freeze the interest rates, new mortgage seekers now have to subsidize the people that can't pay to keep the banks afloat, and the thing keeps rolling on. Frankly, I blame the financial institutions and the military industrial complex, for being so short cited and greedy, and our politicians, and ultimately us, for letting them get away with it. But as long as there's life, there's hope and we can make things better. |
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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Grow light bulbs can really help mood
in shorter day light.
I am using Phillips Agro Lights |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Anybody remember the episode of "NorthernExposure" where (in the midst of 6 months of darkness) everybody took to wearing visors with little white lights under the brim???
GreatSeries. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Re-watching them. I'm just starting season 3. |
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Posts: 1234
Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | Well having lived in over half the states over the years, I have to agree sunshine helps but your mental attitude dictates your depression level.
Seven years in Hawaii, half was the best years of my life, the other half was the worst. The job and the people I worked with made my depression level what it was. Maybe paradise but the cost of living is not matched by anyplace else in the US, not Alaska, not the taxation belt of the Northeast. But hey, you can go to the beach everyday.
A childhood in Michigan resulted in the fact I now HATE snow but two years stationed in Alaska and I loved it regardless of the snow. The green mountains, and people offset the 350 days of overcast skies, sleet and cold. Lack of malls was also a nice thing but even that is changing. Sunshine and warm weather of the Southern States; South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi & Texas was definitely offset by the Hurricanes, retired inapt drivers and mosquitoes. California...assholes, smog and traffic...yuck. Oregon and Washington...nothing every dried...rain and more rain, almost too much green if that's possible. Not my cub of tea...
But Cliff hit it right on, about 8 years ago I died on the emergency room table and was fortunately revive following a ventricular tachycardia. My loves ones thought they had lost me and I got the scare of my life. It has put things into perspective...I live today for today and don't stress what tomorrow may or may not bring. We are all just passengers on this ride called life. Look past your problems and enjoy friends and family. Pull out the guitars and just play some music for the holidays :) |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | I just spent a few days in Lansing, Michigan. The downtown was pretty depressing - the only thing that was missing was a few tumbleweeds here and there. That being said, the customers that I was with seemed to have NO problem with depression. Their business is doing well and they seemed to be having a great time. |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Tim in Tidewater:
We are all just passengers on this ride called life. Tim, have you been watching "Northern Exposure" too? |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | To answer your question, in a nutshell... yes.
A year and a half ago I would have said that we have turned the corner away from the 911 economy. Now I'm not so sure the worst is over. A sign on the local real estate office says, "Over 100 Bank Owned Homes Listed!" Not good. I have been very diligent and responsible with my 401k but I will have no lifetime pension or health care. I have a friend who works for a school district that complained that their brand name prescription drugs went from a $5 co-pay to a $7 co-pay and that their free massages have been cut. Meanwhile, out in the real world I'm having to pay $40 for a brand name script while my taxes support those type of benefits.
The world is in flux. And Michigan might be a little ahead of what is going on.
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GWB... I PM'd you. |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | These are pretty stressful times, and getting more so.
Fortunately I've been able to avoid it all. |
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Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I get a little down in the dark season and would move to Mexico (for at least half the year) in a flash if the wife would come.
I've been in advertising and/or self-employed almost all my life. So job security has never existed for me, I'm never 100% sure of the next paycheck.
For all that most would see me as I think I am, basically happy.
"I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden"
But at least I live in The Garden of Ursh ....(see 'Canadian Singer) |
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February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | Although we both will become unemployed in March, my wife and I are surprisingly upbeat, even to the point of working out a plan to survive up to a year without meaningful income and send my son off to his first year of college. Granted, it will eat up all of our meager retirement savings, but it can be done, if necessary.
Perhaps we are naïve, but I don’t think so. We have been here before, tighten our belts, and worked through it. A positive attitude is a must. It might be tougher this time around. We’re a little older (still under 50 though) and our skills are not quite up to date on the technical side, but we’re ambitious and willing to do what it takes.
The biggest hurdle we have to deal with is finding a good job without relocating. Doing so will allow my daughter to finish high school without moving her again. Is this a real constraint? No, but we moved her once after her freshmen year and it would be best not to do so again, at least for her sake. The Knoxville, TN area should allow us to do this, but you never know, we may be forced to move anyway.
I think the key is flexibility. Our desire is to stay put, but if that doesn’t work out, one of us will go elsewhere to get through the next 18 months. If that doesn’t work, we’ll both go if necessary. What matters is that we are putting together a plan, with contingencies, that we will work to until the paychecks are re-established.
The horizon is dark right now, but the clouds will pass and we’ll be alright. We’ve been on the edge of letting the banks take it all back, but we dug in and got through it before. We are nowhere near that point right now and don’t intend to let it happen again.
It’s all attitude! |
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Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | When I closed my business six years ago I gave the staff AND the clientele 2 weeks notice. We actually all had a pretty good time under the circumstances.
AND, it was amazing how many of my clients had similar stories. They all said, "you'll get through this and come out the other side stronger."
While a bit of a sop, it's true. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You just might not recognize the strength.
...............................................
P.S. - Gro-lights are VERY popular around here..... :rolleyes: |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Brad - what do you guys do for a living? |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | When I started fretting (notice how I keep this guitar-oriented?) about retirement a year ago, my wife started up an ebay business, which is rapidly growing almost faster than we can keep up.
I never would have imagined it, since she has an aversion to computers, and I'm really proud of her!
There are always opportunities to take advantage of! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Like some others here, I'm self employed and have been for the majority of my adult life (1st 2 1/2 years working on commission, next 2 1/2 years on salary, next 22 years self employed). I never know where next month is coming from or even when my clients are going to get their bills paid (December sucks for getting paid), my wife always stresses to me that there's no such thing as job security. You can have a job that you think is secure and get laid off tomorrow.
My dad always said that job security is not having a job that you can always count on, but rather, knowing that you can always find work.
My brother has a great attitude. He says that in chaos, there is profit.
It's important to take a long term view of things. Nothing stays the same, and change can happen quickly or slowly. When it's slowly, we don't notice it. The economic base of this country has been changing for decades, but we often don't see it until it hits us personally. You gotta keep watching the overall picture. Personally, I do think we're near the bottom of the economic cycle. When everybody is bearish, it's time to buy!
As for being happy, it's something that you've got to work at and not take for granted. You've got to actively watch for the things around you that do make you happy, and remember that everybody else is in the same boat. Somebody once said that the happiest person they ever saw was somebody they didn't know very well.
Hey, life is the only game in town. You can can't win if you don't play. So play it with gusto.... |
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Posts: 146
Location: Japan | I thought about this a lot back in the 80's when I was traveling full-time and noticed that some towns would be in full depression while others were just rolling.
One town in particular I remember was Battle Mountain, Nevada, where they'd just had a gold strike and it really stuck in my memory because the town (can't remember where, but maybe somewhere in Idaho) we'd just come from had been in a really bad financial state.
Anyway I try to live with the thought always in mind that "life is what happens while you're busy making other plans" and face what comes next, regardless.
Don't always do so well at accepting things at first, but generally adapt soon after. |
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Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Originally posted by CrimsonLake:
Brad - what do you guys do for a living? Mostly sales & service of hydraulic components for construction and refuse equipment. We are not heavily in with the auto industry but here in Michigan, it's all part of the same cloth in the end. |
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Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | I work in the Telecom - IT Business. My job is stable for the time being. But there are a lot of people in Michigan living on the edge and it's next to impossible to sell a house.
We also seem to be having an unseasonably cold autumn. I was kind of getting spoiled with the climate change, in the past few years it really doesnt get cold until late December. |
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Posts: 4028
Location: Utah | Originally posted by Tupperware:
There is no time to sit around and hope that it'll get better on it's own. 'Cuz it WON'T. Truer words have never been spoken. Reaction only occurs in response to action.
I've been on borrowed time since July 2, 1998 when I looked into the eyes of the Grim Reaper and somehow survived a theoretically impossible situation. Last summer, my 11 yr old son, I, and my 75 yr old dad were swept out to deep water by a rip current at the beach just as fast as that. We were lucky as hell to make it back to shore. You never know when your time is up, and then it's too late to go back.
For my 2cents, things are better than ever. As an airline pilot, we've been on the race to the bottom in wages. Honest truth is I would be many dollars ahead had I become a public high school math teacher, which was an option I seriously considered 16 years ago when I got into professional flying. But, I enjoy my job and I am employed.
There have been some lean times over the past 16 years. Post 9-11-2001 was some serious job and financial stress, but we weathered that storm. Some years I made less than $10k working crazy ass jobs to pay my dues towards getting the big bucks dream job someday. :rolleyes:
Ten years ago, we qualified for food stamps and my kids got free breakfast and lunch at school. Today we have a good income and enjoy the luxury of being frugal so that two kids can go to a top private school and the third goes to an excellent private college, with no debt to fund it.
But that is all just money stuff. The important stuff is performing with my 15 yr old daughter in a band at church, and going shooting with my son. It's easy to stress over money, but it pales in importance to family time. |
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Posts: 665
Location: Tychy, Poland | Originally posted by BT717:
laid off after 29 years! 2 days before I got laid off I find out I have $6500.00 of dental work that needs to be done NOW or I will have some major problems soon (Due to past medical situation not lack of care). i don't know what you have to do. but... book airplane tickets to poland, take some ovation with ya. You'll see something new, save at least a grand (or more - it depends what has to be done) and have a vacations.
btw.
guys - head up. Even if Your ecenomy is in recession it's much better than Polish in state of booming.
You guys may start thinking about selling an adamas for $2000 or so,
i work 4 months for that money.
You guys might think about cutting a few guitars from Your collection - i'm down to one, i've even had to sell electric which was my main instrument, and i'm down to only a heavily beaten 1617
But i'm happy. Now it's near 10 p.m. here, i'm sitting in front of computer, listening to some weird version of shape of my heart, practicing guitar scales to this and drinking cola, and looking at polish auction portal for some playable electric up to $500 which i want to buy for a holidays.
Without bad moments in life, we wouldn't be able to appreciate good ones. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I do know that I'm a heck of a lot better off than many, many others. There are a lot of people dancing closer to the edge of the cliff than myself. And for that, I am grateful.
How bad can it be?? I am still going to Amelia Island Clinic. (Which afterwords I'm sure will be known as the Amelia Island Incident!) |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | times like these will shake our foundations a bit. we will find out if we have been building on sand or on rock. time to examine priorities. the externals will only get worse. it's the internals, the heart conditions, that matter. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4028
Location: Utah | If you are feeling stressed and/or depressed, try turning off the tv. Most especially, turn off the news. Remember that the media is in the business of selling doom, gloom, and disaster. It is what gets eyeballs tuning in, so they push it.
If the zombies attack or if Mars explodes, you will hear about it elsewhere. It really doesn't improve your life to know about the kids who burned in a house fire six states away, and it sure as hell doesn't matter what Brittany Spears is doing.
I find that my stress level is much lower now that the tv is turned off. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | the best thing on TV these days is the "OFF" button. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Brad, you can dance as close to Cliff as you choose, no one will stop you (except maybe Cliff).
FlySig, you are right on. I watch tv, but haven't watched the news for years, because mostly it isn't news, it's agenda. And it's always negative. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The only News I watch/listen to is the BBC.
(the only problem is their Weather Forecasts suck) |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | To quote a movie line (which happens to be very true):
"We fall down so we can learn to pick ourselves up." |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Whew. I thought I fell down because I was chewing gum.
Thanks, Paul. I feel better n..whooops! |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| My sympathies to everyone near/on/over the edge. Sometimes life just deals you a bum hand.
Politics or not - the fact that China owns trillions and trillions of US debt is going to rise up and bite somebody's ass one day.
That and people spending more than they can ever repay to buy things they don't need. |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | the US is about outta here. welcome to the north american hemisphere where canada, mexico and at least 49 states are amalgamated. not sure what they're gonna do with hawaii yet. probably ship some kinda virus over here to kill us all off and then use the islands as a playground for the elite. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm with FlySig on his first post. What really matters to a parent is the kids. If the kids are doing well, I'm happy. When it seems like they're going down the toilet, I feel like I am helpless to prevent someone from flushing it. Stress and depression are linked to helplessness. If it's something you can fix, fix it. If it's something you can't do anything about, that's the tough part. We have to quit worrying about what we can't change. Since that is way easier said than done, if find that working on something I can change is the best distraction therapy. Playing guitar, pounding nails, kicking or hitting balls, whatever. It's all good therapy. Somehow being depressed about being a lousy golfer is easier to take than being depressed about job, career, health or kids. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by lanaki:
.....and then use the islands as a playground for the elite. Why bother? We/they do that now, and the service is better when cheap help is local!
as LBJ posted; poverty, stress, and joy are completely relative to your situation. A Mexican kid with a scuffed up soccer ball to share with every other kid in town can be much happier (and may well be) than a Canadian suburbanite teen who only has Guitar Hero I.......
BTW: Dental work is half price in MExico.....it can pay for the trip. You get the vitamin D dose as a free bonus. (and you can have fun in mexico my style for less than $50 dollars a day. beer included) |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | and that's a lot of beer! I've seen him drink. |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | I don't place my trust in our economy or Politics, I choose to stand on Psalm 121
Pauly |
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November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
and that's a lot of beer! Aww, c'mon. I was nervous! ;) |
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January 2006
Posts: 1477
Location: Michigan | Wow this post got a lot more attention than I thought it would.
It seems we all have a story to tell.
This has been very THERAPUTICAL and interesting for me .
Thanks to all for the honest feedback and for telling us about some of your certain situations .Good Luck & God Bless to all who are having some bad Ju-Ju going on in your lives right now. GWB |
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October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Believe it or not, I just gotta keep my mouth shut here.
Don't ever say it never happened. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Cliff, I don't watch any news. It avoids getting worked up about things. |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | The most stressful time of my life was 2000-2001; my biggest fear up to that point had been losing one of my loved ones. In April 2000 we thought our 17-yr-old son had a brain tumor (thankfully, it wasn't) and then my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. She finished her chemo that December, and then we got Jack's cancer diagnosis on January 23, 2001, just four weeks later; almost exactly nine months later, on October 28, he was gone. Compared to those 18 months, nothing since has seemed all that bad.
LBJ has it right--bad times sure give you perspective on the good ones. And I'm with Pauly; my anchor verses are below my signature.
--Karen |
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Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672
Location: New South Wales, Australia | I should be stressed and maybe depressed but I'm not. I'm earning not much more than I was 20 years ago but I've discovered there's so much more to life.
Tomorrow I'm gonna get up and jump on a little motorcycle for three hours and deliver mail to half my village with the ocean and the lake in the background...the seabreeze blowing in my face, and all the kids waving at me.
Then I'm gonna come home, play guitar for a couple of hours until my kids get home from school and we're gonna fool around for an hour or so until my wife gets home from work.
I'm so lucky and also thankful. I'll never be rich...well not financially anyway...but life is good.
I hope everyone's Xmas is happy and merry and that you can forget about life's problems at least for a few days.
Failing that, you're all welcome to come and check out my little piece of paradise any time you want :) |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I'm Happy for you Oz!
And Thanx for putting things in perspective.
Money is NOT the root of all Happiness.
They have done surveys that discovered that Poor People are often happier that the Rich.
(Poor and Rich being relative terms that, like Beauty, are in the eye of the beholder.)
[Money is Not the Root of All Evil, either...
The LOVE of Money is the Root of All Evil!] |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 370
Location: Isle of Man, UK | This seems like a good place to dip my toe back into the OFC.
Yes, for some reason these do seem to be very stressful times all over the place. A lot of my friends have been all snappy and nippy at each other, and the general atmosphere has been a bit pants.
Myself? Well, after seven months of particularly dark time that I won't bore you with (lots of things just all hit at once), I'm on an upcurve. Things are getting back to normal (ish), and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m picking up my guitars “to play” again, and not just gig work, which is always a good sign.
I can't explain why things were bad. I still don't know. I had my physical health, steady income, bills always got paid, my family and friends had their health. Just that the stresses of being constantly busy in work and outside of work, and not really being able to deal with anything hit. Not proper stress as in "where is the next meal coming from?", but business stress.
Then you feel bad because (on the face of things, particularly in comparison to some people) you have absolutely nothing to feel bad about and keep thinking "just pull yourself together".
I sympathise with anyone feeling bad, and I always will after my recent times.
Aside from the stresses and strains, I hope that everyone has been keeping well around here. I apologise in particular (publically now, rather than privately as I did a few days ago) to Schroeder who must have felt like I was abducted by aliens without so much as a by-your-leave.
Take care, and remember – keep playing the guitars. That’s why we have them and what they’re there for.
JB |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| You were in jail, admit it. |
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December 2004
Posts: 370
Location: Isle of Man, UK | No comment.
All I will say is that I will, from this day forward, always use soap-on-a-rope.
JB
(it's like I've never been away...) |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
Cliff, I don't watch any news. It avoids getting worked up about things. There's something to be said for that.
Want to have some fun? Go to your local library and pull up a 30 or 40 year old newspaper. Stuff that seemed like life and death back then will seem like...well, like yesterday's news. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | It's always more right now than it's ever been before in all recorded history......
......perspective is something you get only miles and years from an event. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7211
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Interesting read.
We are in a pretty desperate state ourselves and in fact the only thing that keeps us moving forward is where we live.
Most don't know it, but everything that could go wrong with a move did in our case. I've moved many times in my life. From across town, to around the world. I've assisted others and even worked as a mover. I guess this last one was Mr. Karma's chance to make up for all the flawless and near flawless moves of the past.
Some highlights...
[list]
[*]Movers were supposed to bring 2 trucks. On the day of the move, they only brought one. I had to travel across country, hire a crew and the 2nd truck myself and drive back across myself.
[*]Real Estate agents, don't even know where to begin. They priced the house initially too high based on bad data, the sell market fell. One of my best friends and the husband of the primary agent was diagnosed with Cancer so the focus was obviously not on selling my house.. etc etc etc.
Carpet cleaners ruined the carpets resulting in haveing to replace carpet in entire house.
[*]House Cleaners ruined brand new baseboards so had to have repainted.
[*]Due to all of above (and more), house didn't sell for 11 months.
[/list]
So for those keeping track, there was more, but just the above errors accounts for about $15K of unexpected debt, then add, 9 months of unexpected mortgage and bridge loan payments is another $45K of unexpected debt, plus of course the move itself that was budgeted debt of $30K. Yep that's $90K folks not including normal expenses. The real kicker was that without just the "big" issue above, I would have come in UNDER budget on the move and had cash leftover instead of debt.
One of the goals of this move was to open a business, but based on the above, and having no real local connections, no one would touch us to start the business. Great credit before this year, great business plan (lenders words not ours) and we ended up starting an eBay store. Now Lisa is also working again. The Ovation Collection WAS our retirement fund, now it's our meal ticket.. literally.
The ONLY saving grace is that we live/moved to the best place in the world to live for us. We can't imagine living anywhere else nor can we figure out really why it took us so long to move here. Perfect weather, year-round riding, 4-seasons, great food, great outdoors etc etc etc... Today I could go diving, or snow-shoeing within an hour.
I have lived in Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, Connecticut, Philippines, Guam, Virginia, Maryland and Washington and I can attest that climate and surroundings weigh heavy on health and attitude.
Some people can't take "grey misty days", Lisa and I think they are the best. Some people like sunshine all the time. Been there, done that, can't stand it. However, all in moderation. I'd hate grey skys all the time, but I've lived in Hawaii and Philippines and was thankful I lived where it got cloudy and rainy sometimes.
So all in all, 2006 and 2007 has SUCKED in a royal way... but as soon as I walk outside, it all seems better.
So to answer...
"IS THIS THE MOST STRESSFULL TIME OF YOUR LIFE ?"
Not even close!!!! Not even a close 2nd or 3rd most stressful time of my life. It's not great, but it's been soooo much worse at other times. |
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March 2007
Posts: 665
Location: Tychy, Poland | i hope it will work out for all of You.
i've just decided to buy Cort KX-1F Katana electric guitar, and i think i'll get one next week. finally.
i had to sell a lot because of mothers surgery - a car, 4 guitars, part of my audio system... but i can always buy it again.
and for me, even with not so good ending, 2007 was better than 2006 (and 2005) and i hope that 2008 will be better than 2k7. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | We built our house about 12 years ago. I thought that everything that could go wrong did. I thought we were just steps away from divorce and/or being buried in debt over her "dream home." She thought it was fun and wants to do it again.
At the same time, we were restructuring the business and I stood to lose thousands of my investment. I was given an option of a buy out and hang out my own shingle. I decided to stay over my wife's tears, in part because I figured we'd blow the buy out money on the house and wouldn't have enough to start the business.
Then we sold our old house and had to rent one until the new one was done. The landlord was a con and took our deposit and never really owned the house.
We got our money back, a friend rented us a house they were trying to sell, our house got built and we lived happily ever after. Yeah, right. Things actually do seem to work out with time. And someone always has it worse. Look at Al's garage project, for example. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Miles - glad we can help by making sure that some of your collection gets a good home ;)
This is a relatively good time for me - The wife and I are both working and the kids are healthy and happy.
I did however talk to my sister yesterday and she is just getting blasted with bad news. To begin with, she's pregnant, and she found out a few weeks ago that the baby was going to have downs syndrome. That in itself is horrible news. I found out yesterday that her husband was laid off from his job around that same time. To top it all off, he went into the hospital night before last with pain behind his eye and they checked him in. Of course with him being laid off, medical expenses will be ridiculous.
A month ago, they were doing great - they have another son who is 1 1/2 yrs. old and everyone was healthy and employed. It's amazing how quickly things can change.
Please keep her and her family in your prayers. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Jeez, reading all this, I'm starting to think that my life so far has been perfect. Well, expect for the time in prison..... |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
expect for the time in prison..... Freudian slip? Should we start a defense fund?
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | This has been an interesting thread. Sorry to hear about all of the troubles but it's also nice to hear how you folks overcame them. My own life seems to be starting an upswing after several very difficult years.
I agree that life is mostly about right here-right now. If you are not enjoying the moments of the day you are not enjoying life. I also would ad that a sure cure for the blues is some good sweat-breaking excercise, good for the body as well.
However I also want to caution that while many people are absorbed in the moments and pleasures
of their personal lives, world circumstances are rapidly changing. I agree it's bad to obsess over the news and current events. But it is also very dangerous to ignore them. Ignoring the way our country is run is in effect letting other people make your choices for you. So I am encourage some political involvement, no matter which way you lean. Read a few columns, check out a few facts and details.
But everything is best when well-balanced. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia |  |
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January 2006
Posts: 1477
Location: Michigan | Its strange how for alot of people money seems to be the answer to all problems , and then I watched a show on Discovery Channel about the curse of the Lottery.They did a thing on people who won huge amounts of money from lotterys and most of them ended up in jail or bancrupt just a few years after getting their pot of gold.
Whats up with that? I want that chance..GWB |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Reminds me of a couple a bit to the north of us who hit it big in the lotto a year or so ago. It was all over the news how this young, hardworking, humble couple were so deserving. Until of course they decided to use their newfound cash to run some cocaine out of Florida.
Unreal. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | If I can wake up, take a deep breath, swing both feet over the edge of the bed and stand up: well its gotta be a good day: because there are a lot of folks who cannot do part of or all of what I just did! I meet many of them in the course of my job as a Minister nearly every day! Be thankful for what you have and try to lift someone elses burden every day! Then see if you don't feel better about your situation! |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | any day above ground is a good one. |
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November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | The Earth round? I think its more like a very fine line that we live on. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I got rhythm,
I got music,
I got my gal --
Who could ask for anything more? |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| But if it ain't got that swing,
It don't mean a thing. |
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Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Posted by schroeder "But if it ain't got that swing,
It don't mean a thing."
ROFLOL :cool:
Pauly |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | ^%$& #@$!
*%^#@ |
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IS THIS THE MOST STRESSFULL TIME OF YOUR LIFE ?