Last week in Washington DC, I presented a workshop, “Minding your Business During Tough Economic Times.”  As you might imagine my solution to minding your business is examining the money beliefs that bring us to where we are today.  In tough economic times it is more important than ever.  When times are good our problems are just annoying buzzes in the back of our minds.  But during times like this our problems feel like a swarm of mosquitoes attacking us.  We need to sort through the attacks to find out what is real. 

Speaking at this workshop reminded me of a recent e-mail from a woman responding to an article I had written.  Mariellen was down-sized out of her high-tech job and since then has spent time examining her beliefs.  She wrote, “Having this time off, I’ve come to that great understanding you speak about…  I lost sight of what feeds our soul.  I lost sight of what really matters (family, friends, love).  She continued, “I believe we were all mislead into believing that more was better and the more we bought the deeper in debt we got which put more importance on keeping that job and resting all our security and happiness there.  When that was taken away from us, our lives fell apart.  Our happiness was based on the job we had and the things we acquired.  Now, when those are taken away, we’re left with the realization that life is about so much more.”

So, when that swarm of money problems start attacking – remember Mariellen’s lesson:  “life is about so much more.” 

Summer makes it all easier – doesn’t it?

A text message at 10:55 last night announced the arrival of our 7^the grandchild, Emily Lorraine.  Number 7.  Amazing.  These are my step-grandchildren and my own sons haven’t even started.  Seven.  I know my friend Lonise would say, “Seven.  God’s number.  Perfection.”  

If only this perfect child was born into a perfect world.  At this moment, it seems the world is more imperfect than ever. Wherever we turn, it seems an event, a thought or theory is prefaced with “in these economic times.”  It’s as if our world exists solely for economics and money.  We are told to face the reality that there may not be enough money for the “things” our world has created. 

Day after day, we are presented with depressing economic news and are told of yet another sign that tough times are still here, that “all things glorious” have ended, and that economic times have changed.  We listen to the gloom and doom of today’s media, read about major companies asking for bail-outs and we know this is for real.  All around us “the sky is falling, the sky is falling” and whether or not our own sky has crashed, we know that the financial world has shifted.  And, like it or not, our financial life and values are demanding that we shift too.

Can it be that we have been brought to this time and place to stop and re-evaluate who we are in relationship to money and finances?  Is it time for us to ask, “who am I without money, without possessions, without accumulation?” Can it be an opportunity for us to stop, reflect and change course? 

And, are the faces of Emily, Oscar, Lucy, Taylar, Zoe, Madison and Jalen perfect reminders of why?

Smiling….

I’ve been on a two week vacation in Robbinston, Maine, a very tiny town with no town center and only 500 or so people in almost 34 square miles.  Robbinston is in Washington County, Maine – Downeast Maine’s “Sunrise County.”  Washington County is called the Sunrise County because it is the easternmost county in the United States.   It’s also the poorest county in Maine and among the poorest in our country.  

However, it is only economically poor – its natural wealth is endless.  Watching the roaring waters of Reversing Falls I see seals riding the waves.  On the lake with the ethereal loons, I’m amazed as one swims under my kayak.   Hearing a splash on my morning walk, I see a majestic bald eagle rising from the lake with breakfast in his talons.  Wild strawberries abound in fields soon to make way for the blueberry carpets of August.  And as I walk along the country roads, I am greeted by the sight and smell of cedar and sea roses.    

Every day I am reminded of the tangible values in life. Things we can touch and feel and smell and see – things that are constant, things we can count on.  This is the currency of Washington County.  Washington County’s coffers are lined with raw beauty that feeds our souls not our pocketbooks.  After two weeks I know these are the things of true value, the things that remind us where real joy and wealth can be found.

Now the challenge is to remember Washington County’s values when I rejoin the “real world” – that electronic working world; that money world.  Each day back the memories will get dimmer, but I am forever connected to the loons, the eagles, the waters – how can I forget?  If we let them, they speak louder than the misguided values of our financial world.   Do you hear them?

Tomorrow we drive four hours back home – let the transition be peaceful and easy….

I’m on vacation in remote Washington County, Maine. Internet access is iffy – when I’m lucky enough to read from my brother-in-law’s wireless across the road. Cell phone reception is sporadic too. This is what vacation is all about…….