In the past several months, we have had major upheaval in our ‘normal’ way of life. Prices for gas/diesel have soared through the roof, only to come down to a point lower than even a year ago. The housing market has plummeted to new lows brought on by foreclosures and sub-prime lending. Our stock market is still retreating, while our government has thrown money at banks, the auto industry and now a whole bunch more places in an effort to hold off the worst possible scenario. And how has it affected you? Do you still have a job? Is your area of employment still secure or running scared? Your retirement or savings has dwindled and what can you do about it?
All of these happenings have proven an age old line; “take care of yourself, because nobody will do it better than you”.
Now granted, you put faith in a system; a system that’s been around for quite some time. Who would have known these things would happen? Of course, over history; very few people knew when something tragic or catastrophic would take place. If more people would have, there’d be more rich people around today.
So what’s this go to do with creativity? Lots. In fact; the most creative people seem to rise to the surface in times of need and despair. Thinking has to change. Call it more of a ‘survival’ thought process. I really don’t believe things are as tough as they are; but then I live in the Upper Midwest; isolated from the highs and lows most of the rest of the United States feels. In certain areas of the country; mainly places like Detroit and other areas where the manufacturers are cutting jobs left and right; I can easily see the difficulties that are facing those living there. I think we have gotten complacent and are not even close to hungry enough to fight the changes the rest of the world will cause us to experience. We look for working less, more time off and for recreation here in the U.S. In other countries, they are happy to work….period! So they don’t mind if it’s 80-100 hours a week. I’m not sure if that’s a passion or just sheer survival instincts. We have allowed a system that was created with good intentions; to put clamps on us and hold down our growth while encouraging other countries to catch up and even go ahead of us in certain areas. We have the brain power. We have the man power. So let’s get off our couches and figure out some solutions.
The people that I talk with about these changes usually have only 1 or 2 things that are affecting them. Most of them have lost some amount of money from the stock collapses. A lot of the time it’s money that was gained from their initial investment anyway; but still, it’s a loss. Other than that, it’s mostly a tightening of credit that has affected a majority of the people. Given what the media says; you’d think doom and gloom is walking on all the streets and we only have a short time before everything goes black. I think that’s so far from the truth; but then truth is what you believe. Most people have not been affected at all; in fact with the price of gas going down recently, they’re possibly better off than they were a year ago. Yes, the reports show that spending is down and our retail stores are closing and laying off people. They never talk about how many new businesses open up in a monthly period; only the ones laying off. How about fair reporting and showing us the ‘good’ signs amidst the ‘bad’ ones?
So creatively, evaluate yourself. Your talents, your education, your good fortune and bad, your successes and failures, your triumphs and tragedies. Look hard at what your passion is. We only live on this earth once; so don’t get to your death bed and regret what you didn’t do. Take the time to plan and then work toward those goals. There are so many good things to work for on this earth; put your efforts behind what needs help in your ‘little corner of the world’ and make a difference. It is when each of us sees that the little things we do CAN help; that others will be inspired and join on this MIGHTY crusade to better the earth.
In the meantime, turn off the BAD news and laugh at the nay-sayers. You have the power to make a difference in your own life and in the world around you.
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