New Perspectives

I, like many of you I'm sure, am worried about our Nation's economy. I have a hard time thinking about what our country's "low" might be and wondering how the whole situation could affect my little family. I've been trying to have a good attitude about the whole thing, understanding that recessions have happened before and our economy has come out stronger because of them, but sometimes it's hard for me to stop the worrying in the meantime.

Anyway, I read an article on MSN today by Bankrate.com titled "10 Reasons to Love a Recession" and it helped me adopt a new perspective on the situation.

The author Jay McDonlad wrote, "Let's smile, lift our half-full cups of regular unleaded and toast these 10 very good things about impending bad times." Here's the list:

1-Family Dinners -since most Americans can't afford to all run out and eat separate meals at fast-food and other restaurants.

2-Shorter Lines at the Pump

3-Less Junk Mail -because advertisers can't afford to keep sending it to you.

4-More Coupons -I LOVE this one. The article reports that the average American family saves 25% on their grocery bill in a year when they clip coupons...Marcus and I put all of our coupon savings money into a savings account one year and I couldn't believe how much was in there when December rolled around.

5-Free Fitness -people spend more time walking, riding bikes, and playing outdoors.

6-Bargain SUVs -I don't necessarily care about this one, but SUVs, Trucks, and Minivans apparently have gone down in price more drastically than at anytime in U.S. history.

7-Business Start-Up Opportunities -Microsoft, Hewelett-Packard, Disney, and more than half of the companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average started up during economic downturns.

8-Growth in Gardening -people fire their lawn-keepers and start tending to their yards and gardens for themselves.

9-Musical Inspiration -hard times inspire great songs.

10-New Perspectives -the article states, "Perhaps the greatest boon of a recession is the time to reflect and reassess the true meaning and goals of our lives.

I guess there really is something to be grateful for in every circumstance.