When times get tough...

In times of economic crisis one can't help but feel overwhelmed, worried or even depressed. When you find yourself having to cut back on things you enjoyed or having to change your lifestyle all together, its hard to stay positive. But there IS something positive in all of this. People are starting to get back to basics and enjoy the little things in life some of us have even forgotten to acknowledge. 

To be completely honest, what do we really NEED? 

1. food

2. shelter

3. health

4. love

When you have overwhelming thoughts of sadness or despair its always good to stop and think of these true basic needs.

... and now a personal story:

I was very upset the other day because I was so close to completing my goal of graduating from my masters in just one year. I wanted to walk on that stage and receive my diploma this May. But the university has a policy that the seminar course has to be taken all by itself, the last class if you may, and because of that one class I couldn't take with the other three I had this trimester I was going to have to wait until next year. I was VERY upset, that means no job, no money ext. While I was in my friends car crying and whining about how my world was coming to an end we stopped at a red light and as I looked out my window all teary eyed I noticed a homeless person that made crosses out of palm fronds in order to get money. I felt so ashamed, here I was so upset when I actually have a home to go to, and this person was standing in the wet road with nothing... I lowered my window and gave him the only dollar I had in my wallet to which he responded "God bless you". It was a humbling experience, but one that made me realize the blessings I have in my life.

Its like my mother always said to me "there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you, so be thankful for what you have."