Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

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What you`re actually experiencing is post-traumatic stress syndrome. There are several known pathways toward getting some help mitigating the current effects.

 

You could be right.  Right now I want to stop and smell the roses, play with my grandchildren and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.  I think age does somewhat play into the equation.

 

Sandy

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Even so, with Social Security bankrupt, portfolios on a roller-coaster, taxed likely to go through the roof, and soaring energy costs, the best retirement strategy I`ve seen is to own a small business.

 

It could be that living in Canada mitigates some of the above-mentioned conditions.  I`ve been following the sub-prime mortgage situation and some of the repercussions have been felt around the world, not to mention by the thousands (or millions?) of families who have lost their homes.  It`s heartbreaking. 

 

In my opinion it was one of the worst decisions in the first place to offer this type of loan, although it must have seemed like a good idea at the time.  But the worst part is that all these mortgage loans were split up and incorporated into  many financial vehicles as investments, which eventually went global!  Bad idea (or can I be saying this only in hindsight)!  It`s one of the saddest and most far-reaching financial fiascos in many years, affecting many, many people, businesses, etc. adversely.  Then, of course, there`s the war in Iraq.  No need going into that.

 

I feel that as a resident of Canada (Ontario), even though one our favourite activites is to complain about the government, how ineffectual they are and how they are wasting the taxpayer`s money, we still have our health-care system for one . And even though we complain about that as well (like wait-times that, in some cases) are far too long, we know that if a catastrophic illness or accident occurs, we are not left to die (in most cases :-p).  I believe we have a pretty good system of other social safety nets, as well.

 

Energy costs are rising everywhere, taxes are rising everywhere, it`s difficult to find a safe place to invest and still get a decent return.  Yeah, things are in a mess, looking at the big picture, but there are little pockets of happiness, calmness and common sense prevailing everywhere with people finding alternative ways of doing things, surviving and doing well.  Starting in a small community or town and keeping local economies flourishing seems to be having a positive effect on so many levels.  This paradigm is catching on and spreading and I think this is going to be the way people can begin to have a better life; by supporting local businesses and each other.

 

I don`t know if all this make any sense or if it`s even relevant.  I think I kind of got carried away there.  What am I trying to say?  I think it`s this: that we can look at things in many different ways, not all of them gloomy.  We, all of us, have it in us to turn our lives around if we just know where and how to look. 

 

Now I am trying to shift to a less linear and more creative (some might even say `unorthodox` - but legal) way of thinking in planning for the future and I think I will succeed!

 

Sandy

 

Great reading all .... thanks.

 

Just wanted to type on one point....being happy. You know the happiest country right ? Denmark. Saw a program and they interviewed professionals who study `happiness`, and citizens of Denmark. Seems overall, they`re expectations are quite low. They have a lot of family time. They all get 6 mos. off work each year. Students` college is paid for.....and most everyone does ok financially. You wouldn`t know they were so happy if you walk down the street. They don`t talk much to each other...they don`t all wave and say `hi`, and smile. It`s quiet, low key, like they think `Well, another day. Not too much happening. Let`s go have a beer.`

 

I`ve found that if my expectations are high for something, could be anything, and it doesn`t meet my expectations, I`m bummed. We put so much pressure on ourselves here in the U.S. .... we want to love our job,  be rich,  travel, have lots of family time, and vacation time, and THEN we will finally be happy. 

 

For me, that`s WAY too much to want and too much pressure. Few people `have it all`. But what is `having it all` ? Well there we are. That`s what we have to answer. Each of us individually.

 

I always try to find the positive in any situation. Today (Fri), my day job is in jepardy. The company is being sued and it`s a big deal. This is my only income and I have 2 children to support. Monday is kind of a big day in Court. This day may be my last day here.

 

Unemployment here in MI is terrible and jobs are very, very hard to find. So if the worst happens and I am unemployed Monday I can sob, get depressed, and cry on everyone`s shoulder. OR....I can realize it`s an opportunity for me to do something else...to find something else...to expand my horizons once again. I live for challenges and if this is to be then I welcome the challenge.

 

Before I got this job, I had, litterally $ 10 in my pocket, was WAY behind in bills, and trying like hell to make something happen. Well, something did happen and it`s been wonderful.

 

Damm...didn`t mean to go on and on. A.D.D. you know !