Originally uploaded by Olivia Bee

This is the time of year which most of us reflect on the year that was and look forward to the year which is to come. We examine ourselves. We set resolutions. We come up with a vision for the year to come.

I have my plans. I have my vision of 2009. If any of it goes according to plan, the year to come should be an exciting one!

How about you? What are your plans? Do you have a vision? Is there some personal goals you have set and will achieve in 2009?

Originally uploaded by drewmaniac

This month: On the Pursuit of Happiness

“False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared.” ~ Charles de Montesquieu

“Whoever is happy will make others happy too.” ~ Anne Frank

“Happiness is a hard thing because it is achieved only by making others happy.” ~ Stuart Cloete

“Most people are about as happy as they decide to be.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

“Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness.” ~ George Orwell

"Winter in Central Park"
Originally uploaded by * Nina *

When you give do you…

• … expect something in return?
• … buy something you want, instead of something they want?
• … feel obligated to give?
• … hate spending the money?
• … wish you didn’t have to?
• … keep score and make it a point to bring up your past gifts?

If you do just one of these things, then you’re missing the point of giving. You’re missing the point of helping someone. You’re missing the point of sharing. In short, you’re not getting it.

May I suggest trying a different approach to giving?

• Give without any expectation of ever receiving anything in return.
• Want to give.
• Give not just when you’re expected to, but give when it is least expected.
• Come up with creative and unique gifts.
• When you see an opportunity to give, take it. Do not think twice or tell yourself you will do it later.
• Never give a gift and then hold it against someone later.
• Encourage them to pay it forward, rather than pay you back.

Any other suggestions?

Originally uploaded by Herr Marchi

My parents got married and had their first child (me) during the recession of the late 1970′s. My grandparents and great-grandparents survived the Great Depression of the 1930′s. I have had to live from paycheck to paycheck. I’ve seen a few movies that were set during the Great Depression. I’m also a history nerd, so I’ve read my fair share of books on past economic woes that have come our way. So I’m uniquely qualified to comment on this subject.

All kidding aside, most analysts are predicting 2009 to be a rough year economically. We were just told a couple of weeks ago that we’ve officially been in a recession since last winter. The media and politicians alike like to call our current downturn, “the worst since the Great Depression.” In reality, our economic woes more closely resemble those of the 1970′s. At least that is where they are at now.

Here are eight ways I believe one can survive the current downturn:

1. Save. You should have been saving already, but if you’re not, there is no better time to start than now.
2. No wallowing. I explained what that was in an earlier post here.
3. Do not panic. The media is looking for reasons to panic. Your co-workers may be starting to panic. Your boss may be panicking. You don’t need to panic. When you panic you make poor decisions. Stay calm. Stay level headed, no matter how hard things may get. It’s those who do not lose their heads who will survive any difficult time.
4. Pay off your debt. If you have the money to pay off your credit cards, do it now. Don’t use your credit cards as a rainy day fund. Racking up credit debt in a time of economic downturn will only drag out your economic downturn.
5. Prepare a backup plan. Do not assume your job is safe from the economic fallout. If you find yourself going down with the ship, it will be much easier to handle if you have been preparing a backup plan. A second job, a side job, anything that you are doing for extra income should be cultivated. Who knows? You might just turn this rough moment in time into an opportunity.
6. At times, escape. During the 1930′s, the types of movies that were being made were what people today like to brand as escapist movies. Jazz and big bands also flourished during this time period. These movies and musical genres uplifted people’s spirits. They removed them from the difficult realities they were facing day in and day out. Sometimes you need to get away. Find an escape.
7. Examine your life. Find out what is really important in life, then take steps to enjoy those things. Do I really need to spell it out? Hint: It’s not money.
8. Think long term. I read somewhere (I think a dying newspaper) that the average recession since 1945 has lasted 10 months. However from 19oo-1945 the average recession lasted 18 months. We have no way of telling how long this one will last, or that it may morph into a depression. So prepare for the long term. You won’t regret it.

Have anything else to add? Share it with us.

Roar
Originally uploaded by Beard Papa

• When the wheel was invented, I am sure there was at least one person who said they liked things the old way.
• When Jason Hammel made the decision to forgo medical school, opting instead to pursue a musical career as one half of the band Mates of State (his wife, Kori Gardner is the other half), I’m willing to bet there were a few people who raised their eyebrows.
• When Winston Churchill began to warn of possible Nazi aggression in light of their military buildup, we know that many thought him insane and a political liability.
• When Otto Frederick Rohwedder invented sliced bread, there may have been very little invented that was greater, but I am positive there were those who thought it lazy to purchase bread already sliced.

People tend to like things the old way. People have a tendency to question sudden career changes. Especially if you were originally going to medical school. People don’t respond well to warnings and cautionary tales. People sometimes take a little while to catch on. People can sometimes be detractors.

They all have their good reasons for being a detractor. Fear. Lack of understanding. Lack of a vision for the future. You name it, detractors can have it.

So what is to be done with detractors?

Whatever your cause, decision, or invention, expect detractors. Expect them, but do not cater to them. If everyone catered to the detractors, who’s to say we wouldn’t be driving on square blocks?

good-grief-charlie-brown
Originally uploaded by synergy_711

“This is my depressed stance. When you’re depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you’ll start to feel better. If you’re going to get any joy out of being depressed, you’ve got to stand like this.” ~ Charlie Brown

We like to wallow in our misery. It is so much easier.

If most economic reports for the coming year are even remotely close, it’s obvious we will have some difficult days ahead. Spending will need to be cut back. Some may lose their retirement (some already have). On paper many may watch their net worth dwindle. In the worst case scenario some may lose their jobs. Some may be without work for an extended period of time. So what if you find yourself as one who has to endure some or all of these scenarios?

No wallowing.

If you do nothing but listen to the media and many around you, the temptation to wallow in misery will be strong. Misery loves company, so beware, because misery will attempt to freeload at your place.

Instead of wallowing in your misery if you (I’m speaking to myself here too) should find yourself in a difficult situation due to the economic uncertainty, decide ahead of time you are going to turn the moment into an opportunity. The best ideas and most creative thinking can occur when one is desperate and backed into a corner. No wallowing. Only opportunity. The best time to take advantage of this opportunity is to plan ahead for it. Don’t wait until you are laid off or having financial issues. Prepare now for the darker days many seem certain may come your way.

I know a little bit about being without a job, so I’m speaking from experience, not rose colored glasses. You really have two options. You can play the blame game and wait for your handout (wallowing), or you can pick yourself up and figure out a way to take advantage of your difficulties (finding opportunity).

The choice is ultimately yours to make. I know what I would suggest. No wallowing.

I wonder……
Originally uploaded by jwlphotography

I know you’ve been lurking for a while. You read your favorite blogs. You read the top blogs. You don’t usually participate in the conversation. You have your reasons for not connecting and to you they are good ones. But here recently you’ve been wondering, “Should I blog?”

Many will encourage you to take the plunge. So why not start now? Normally I’d tell you to dive right in too. Make your mark on these series of tubes! If this were a normal, encouraging post that’s just what I’d do. But, this isn’t a normal, encouraging post.

What are your motivations for starting a blog of your own? This is a very important question you need to ask yourself. If you are doing it for these reasons, you might want to think twice.

1. Money - If you think blogging will bring you some extra cash, it might. But the odds that it will are slim. Sure, there are plenty of good examples of people out there making a living blogging. However, very few of them started out with the sole purpose of making some fast cash. In fact, in blogging there is no fast cash. It’s usually a long, tedious process. You have to put out good, consistent material… consistently. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Then there’s connecting, participation, etc. If money is your motivating factor in starting a blog, be prepared to be disappointed.
2. Fame – The money and fame factors are closely related. The odds of you becoming famous or “someone” in the blogging world are slim. If you are considering blogging in order to snatch your 15 minutes of fame, I’d like to encourage you to just keep lurking. It would be easier for you to snatch up your fame by joining a reality show.
3. Everyone is blogging – Thanks to @RobinRKC for this one. Your mom was right. It isn’t a good idea to jump off a cliff just because everyone else is doing it. If your motivation for creating a blog of your own is due to the fact that it seems like everyone has a blog, don’t do it. Without a real reason or purpose your blog will go the way most new blogs go. No where. You will soon get bored. You will have a hard time coming up with material for your blog because you will always be concerned about everyone else. Your heart will not be in it, because you were just following everyone else. So I’m warning you now. Don’t jump off the cliff!

If your motivations do not involve any of these three common reasons people start blogs and you think you have something to say, by all means, get started! Let’s see what you can bring to the table.