Everywhere we turn, bad news. Life is tough for most people now days. The shaky economic picture is having an impact on almost everyone. We feel pretty powerless. What are we to do?
The ostrich hides its head in the sand. What good does this do? Denial doesn't get us anywhere but stuck in la-la land. But at the same time, we need to be realistic. There are things we can do to make sure that life keeps chugging along. Taking care of daily business is one of those things. Sometimes we just need to put one foot in front of the other and do the next thing, whatever that is. We still have to go to work. There are all kinds of household responsibilities that keep calling us. We need to take care of ourselves, even though sometimes we feel joined at the hip to the news media. Turn it off and take a walk.
And have some fun. With family members and friends. Children can definitely pick up on our anxieties. They don't understand what's going on. Sadly, they often internalize our fears and wonder what they have done to make us anxious or upset. Yes, they need to know that we may need to change our routines some. They don't need to know all of the financial details. They need reassurance from us that we are taking care of them.
We also need joy in our lives, especially when things seem so gloomy. Noticing the good things is not about being in the dark or hiding from the truth. Joy and pleasures are all around us. This beautiful day. The support of a friend or loved one. The curiosity and questions of a child. Giggles and smiles. Hugs. Simple expressions of gratitude. Noticing the joys in our life help to renew our spirits and give us more energy to cope with life.
We can become very stressed by the fact that times are tough. Or we can rise above our fears by taking care of business each day and remembering the value of family and friends. Love and support help to carry us through difficult times.
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