First of all, I would like to thank all of you that send me emails asking when I will write my next BLOG. I guess like most of you, I've been caught up with other things lately, but things happen for a reason, and when my eyes opened at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday, I thought to myself, "this is the time for my next BLOG."
Today's BLOG will be about what lies ahead. These times are tough, actually, these times are scary, and it will get scarier. Hopefully, some tips I've learned along the way will help you somehow. So here I go….
Do something different!-- Yup, that's it! That's number one on my list. "Do something different." By now you are thinking should I keep reading? This guy is an idiot! He hasn't said anything. Well, yes I have, think about it. Whatever you are doing right now, isn't working. If it was, you wouldn't be in the situation you are in. So, do something different. I don't care what it is, just make sure it's not the same thing because you already know the same thing is not working! I'm not sure if it was Einstein, but if it was, he once said "if you keep doing the same thing over and over again, and expect different results, then you are just crazy." Simple in thought and philosophy, but extremely difficult to apply.
Friends, Family, Neighbors, etc… -- Remember them? Yeah, we haven't seen them in a while. We all know why; responsibilities like children, work, and home. Our lives are definitely more complicated today than it was compared to our parent's generation, but you know what's great about friends and family, they always take you back and they need you now more than ever, too. So hook up with old friends again. Have them over for a BBQ, some beers, maybe catch a movie. Skip that trip to Home Depot to buy mulch and forgot about killing those pesky weeds. I know, by now you might be thinking all this costs money. Look, we are all cutting back financially. So, how about you stop making excuses and get creative. Make plenty of popcorn and rent a movie, have your friends chip in. It didn't cost you much and everyone will have a good time.
Exercise--- Isn't this simple? A very important activity that in the good ol' USA we have been ignoring for a long time. I know, I blame "time" again, at least that is my excuse. But you know what, I joined a gym yesterday. It truly does make you feel good. Now, you don't have to spend money and join a gym. Just get that old squeaky bike out of the garage or those old dirty sneakers and go for a nice bike ride, a jog, or a walk. Trust me, it will distract you and the benefits of exercise are more than well documented.
Nature --- Look around you. I live in Miami, and the Everglades is a 20 minute motorcycle ride away. How can you go somewhere dominated by nature and not be relaxed, impressed, and at peace? Enough said!
Education --- I like this one. I have bankruptcy clients that due to a cutback in hours at work or even lay-offs, have gone back to school. Don't want to get a loan or you are done with higher education, although, like chicken soup, it can't hurt. Fine, take a class that is free. I don't know what, but try cooking, pottery, underwater basket weaving. It doesn't matter, just do it.
Volunteer--- I like this one a lot. It truly, truly makes you feel good. It can be anywhere for anything. It doesn't really matter. Volunteer organizations always could use your help. For me personally, I'm trying to get involved in volunteer projects for the Everglades. I've been donating a portion of my book proceeds to the Susan B. Komen Foundation, but to be honest, it takes one minute to write the check and another minute to mail it out, and once those two minutes are gone, so is the feeling of 'good.' So, join your church, a homeless shelter, etc…. The feelings last longer and are just as effective as money.
Read--- Even though my dream is to quit the practice of law and continue writing novels, the truth is, I don't really read a lot of novels. I don't enjoy them, oddly enough. In part, it is because I get frustrated that my book hasn't sold as much as the one I'm reading ;) but I do enjoy reading biographies, etc… A good friend of mine gave me a book on physics by Stephen Hawkins, so that is what I'm reading now. And don't say you don't like reading, you're reading this aren't you? Buy my book, that would make me happy, but more importantly, see 1, 'do something different.'
This is a short list of little things you can do daily to help you get through the day, if not, the next few years. I wish I could sit here behind my laptop and write how great things will be in a few months, but realistically, it's not going to be. For me personally, I've lost a lot of money over the last couple of years, and to be honest, I keep thinking about it, and it hasn't made me angry or depressed in any way. This was necessary, at least for me, in order to focus once again on what I consider is important in life. Hey, I'm just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to wanting money, but it doesn't motivate me anymore. And that is why we are all so nervous and anxious these days, because it's about money. Don't get me wrong, I still want money, and lot's of it, but it's not my motivator anymore. For 2009, I have a new goal, I will work to live, not vice-versa. Just like my "do something different" statement, very easy to say, but not so easy to apply.