I have friends who are wondering, right now, where their next few dollars will come from. We have all been through tough times before, but the number of those experiencing financial challenges continues to grow. To some extent my husband and I are in the same boat. If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you will know that we are both job hunting. We keep receiving contract work and we keep paying our bills, but we are skimming the edges. The daily news is grim, the Dow Jones and NASDAQ continue to drop, the job boards are sparse, and at moments it seems that the world is out of control.
There are days when I feel that I should rush out and find any job that I can get. Those are the days when I’m set solidly in fear. There are days when I am so grateful for this time to write, to contemplate, to play, to create, to be with people I love. None of these did I have time for a year ago when I was working more than full time and going to school. Since I quit my job and came home to Colorado, I have completed the first book in a series of garden photography books, including photographing the garden throughout its entire season. I have spent time with my elderly parents. I have started a recipe book at the request of my son. I have reconnected with several old freinds and relatives I hadn’t seen for years. Life is really good and none of these blessings have come from having a lot of money and a prestigious job. Don’t get me wrong – I would not balk at either or both of those coming into my life right now, but there are many ways to look at life’s experiences. I can say without any doubt that not being employed has led to a shower of blessings.
I saw a t-shirt a few years ago with the saying, “if you aren’t living on the edge, you are taking up too much room.” It is a little scary standing out here on the edge, but the scenery is so much better than when I was sitting in an office. I’m trying to not pay too much attention to my 401K nor my bank account because the scenery there is none too pretty. I realized, though, that I can allow that to take up as much room in my life as I choose. I have not truly wanted for anything, or shall I say, I have not truly needed for anything, and practicing a little self-discipline that I have not had to practice for years is a good thing. Saying no to shopping sprees for clothes I really don’t need and staying out of restaurants is not a bad thing.
Today, one of my Facebook friends forwarded a link to an article about our economic times that hits home: Finding Diamonds in the Rubble. There is a good possibility that we are going to go through a lot more troubled times before our economy turns around, but facing that possibility and continuing to follow my dreams is far less frightening than remaining in a location and position where I felt the light of my very soul being snuffed out. I have no idea what the future holds but I do believe that I am (as we all are) a diamond in the rough and slowly, bit by bit, a nice polish is being applied.
My Life 