Today was one of those days when I was reminded that, while I toil for money to take to the grocery store, I no longer have to put forth great physical effort in order to feed my family. There are some pros and cons related to this evolution. For instance, I love being able to get practically any type of food I want anytime I’m hungry. I love not worrying about my children going hungry. I also love my car and its cup-holders. I would not enjoy balancing my daily water supply on top of my head and walking miles to get home. I love my washing machine and my dishwasher. Today I had to physically labor for most of the day and it was exhausting. But there was something mentally relaxing about it too. I don’t know if I was too tired to over-think things (like I normally do) or if I was simply absorbed in the project at hand but the result was an entire day when I didn’t recite my to-do list in my head or worry about an upcoming meeting. And it was nice. Modern conveniences have definitely freed up some time in my life but I’ve filled it nicely with worry, stress and overanalyzing everything.
I always thought, when I saw a painting of a pioneer woman planting in a field that she was wishing for a different, easier life. I believed that she was thinking about the future, wondering if all this work would provide a better life for her children or maybe she was worried that she wasn’t giving her children the time they needed because she was stuck planting. But now I think I was wrong. Those are the types of questions that plague modern women—questions that really have no answer. Are we spending enough time with our kids? How can you tell how much is enough, or too much, or just right? Are we giving our children a better life? That’s tough too. My kids have a lot, but mostly I worry about them being strong, productive adults and I have to clue if what I’m teaching them will get them there. The pioneer woman was too tired and too busy making sure that her family was fed to worry about the unanswerable questions. She tucked them in at night, kissed them on the forehead and gave thanks for another day with all her family around her. And that was enough. Frankly it should be enough for us too.
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stress. Show all posts
August 19, 2010
August 13, 2010
The Recession is Killing More Than Car Sales
The recession is a killer. I know, I know, you’ve heard this all before—in fact you’re probably hearing it now. It’s inescapable. Every news story is about the recession these days. You can now buy a 3000 square foot home with granite countertops for $20, but you won’t qualify for financing. Detroit is out of the auto industry because suddenly everyone needs to drive a car that runs on something other than oil since we’ve spilled it all into the gulf. And if you actually still have a job, then you’re so desperate to join the unemployed that you’re willing to jump out of an airplane carrying a beer in each hand.
Does anyone else find all of this insane? I swear I overheard a Sponge Bob episode on the recession when I was cooking chicken last night. When cartoons start worrying about their home values, then we’ve officially crossed over to the dark-side. It’s like a shadowy plague that is crawling over us—determined to beat us down until we cry out for mercy and a car that doesn’t run on a battery.
Every piece of bad news is somehow linked to the recession, no matter how flimsy the tie-in. If you listen to the news, summer box office receipts were the worst in years because American’s don’t have any discretionary funds left. I don’t know about you, but I just wasn’t willing to drop good money on the garbage movies Hollywood presented us this summer. So now some idiot director who spent millions blowing up cars, houses, and chisel-chinned actors without bothering with a plot is going to get to keep his job because the tanking of the movie wasn’t his fault—it was just the economy. I so wish that man was standing in line with the other 300 applicants that showed up for job interviews at JoAnn Fabrics last week.
I argue that, while the recession is real, the toll it’s taking reaches far beyond our pocketbooks. It’s draining every bit of optimism and hope from the American people who are known for overcoming adversity and reaching for greatness. Terrorists blowing up buildings hurt our spirits less than the constant barrage from the media about our failing economy. Granted, the recession is far reaching, but while we hear about the bad unemployment numbers no one every says, “but hey, 90% of us still have jobs.” They never air a story about how neighborhoods are coming together to help the hardest hit families by providing food, carpooling, and the thing they need most of all—friends who actually care. They never mention how hard those who have jobs are working so that costs are low and their company’s doors can remain open.
Vampires are all the rage these days and I’m not the least bit surprised—we’re all being sucked dry by the constant coverage of bad news day in and day out. We have to stand up for ourselves because I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough. It’s time to lift our heads and do what we American’s have done for centuries, we need to believe in a better day and then work toward it.
Does anyone else find all of this insane? I swear I overheard a Sponge Bob episode on the recession when I was cooking chicken last night. When cartoons start worrying about their home values, then we’ve officially crossed over to the dark-side. It’s like a shadowy plague that is crawling over us—determined to beat us down until we cry out for mercy and a car that doesn’t run on a battery.
Every piece of bad news is somehow linked to the recession, no matter how flimsy the tie-in. If you listen to the news, summer box office receipts were the worst in years because American’s don’t have any discretionary funds left. I don’t know about you, but I just wasn’t willing to drop good money on the garbage movies Hollywood presented us this summer. So now some idiot director who spent millions blowing up cars, houses, and chisel-chinned actors without bothering with a plot is going to get to keep his job because the tanking of the movie wasn’t his fault—it was just the economy. I so wish that man was standing in line with the other 300 applicants that showed up for job interviews at JoAnn Fabrics last week.
I argue that, while the recession is real, the toll it’s taking reaches far beyond our pocketbooks. It’s draining every bit of optimism and hope from the American people who are known for overcoming adversity and reaching for greatness. Terrorists blowing up buildings hurt our spirits less than the constant barrage from the media about our failing economy. Granted, the recession is far reaching, but while we hear about the bad unemployment numbers no one every says, “but hey, 90% of us still have jobs.” They never air a story about how neighborhoods are coming together to help the hardest hit families by providing food, carpooling, and the thing they need most of all—friends who actually care. They never mention how hard those who have jobs are working so that costs are low and their company’s doors can remain open.
Vampires are all the rage these days and I’m not the least bit surprised—we’re all being sucked dry by the constant coverage of bad news day in and day out. We have to stand up for ourselves because I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough. It’s time to lift our heads and do what we American’s have done for centuries, we need to believe in a better day and then work toward it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)