Glen Of Scotland

Good time to review

The first quarter of the year is over, it's a great opportunity to review how you are doing so far this year. Are things going well? Are you healthy? Are you happy? Are you feeling optimistic? I'm sure there are some things that you could answer yes and others you could answer no.

That being the case anything you would like to do differently for the next quarter? What is the easiest of those things? Are you willing to commit to doing the easiest ones?

I'm excited for this next quarter, new people to meet, new places to go, take my practice to a new level and have more fun, laugh some more, play some games and take my friend peace where ever I go and what ever I do.

Signs of improvement

My travels this past month have taken me from coast to coast and there are growing signs of the improving economy. Planes were full for the most part, hotels busy, good restaurants packed, with waits, tourist attractions busy, with both foreign and domestic tourists.

Sure the problems still exist in certain segments, real estate, finance and autos and that will continue for a while longer, the other segments are showing growth and it's something to build on.

I have observed too, that there is an age gap when it comes to my random encounters with strangers, the younger people are more hopeful and the older, less so. Surprising given that the older people have gone through at least 1 recession and 1 bubble burst, they know that recovery follows those events.

Do your best to feel good, get out and about, it doesn't cost anything to go to the local park, very little to the local museum, nothing to go to the library. If you have the funds there are great travel deals out there, or you can be at home listening to talk radio, cable news and getting depressed.

The power of choice, make good ones!

Have a laugh

It's the weekend, so relax and have a laugh, clear here for some funny animal photos.

Easy Explanation

I'm asked quite often to explain what this credit crisis is all about, people just want to understand it better and all those alphabetical financial instruments that are mentioned in the media.

Well someone created a short video that does a simple straightforward and accurate job of doing that, better than I can, so click here to view it.

Split energy

I'm sure you have been hearing the outcry from congress about the bonuses paid  at financial institutions, especially those who received bailout funds. Like everything else about the financial bubble, bonus money got carried away, it does need balancing out.

However when congress is the one saying that it's a waste of taxpayer funds and it's not right, then things will   change  at a slow pace. The energy gets split when you complain about that, then do the same thing when you add all those earmarks and pork spending to the recent $410 billion spending bill.

Maybe all this rage is just a diversionary tactic to hide and cover up what they are doing. It's also evident when a cheating spouse picks on the other one in an extreme way to cover up what they have done.

Having the financial discipline in congress would at least give you a platform to be taken seriously.

Anything similar going on at home or the office?

Rainbow

I recently flew through a rainbow, the first time that has happened to my knowledge. On the same trip I managed to see another one the next day. A lady in Australia did even better, as you can see from this photo!

When is the right time to buy?

I have been asked a lot as to when the best time to buy real estate is. There is no one answer to that question as each situation is different, some people have to buy for tax reasons, some for a job relocation, some for investment. It's best to take your own circumstances into account in your decision making process.

Generally I think home prices will still drop for some time, there are too many homes for sale at the moment and a lot of foreclosures. It will take longer in hard hit states like California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada for that supply to work it's way through the system.

No one can say exactly when prices will stop dropping or when the bottom has been hit, just keep a watch on the supply on the market, when it drops, prices will probably start to increase quickly. You see, there is very little in the way of new construction going on at the moment and at some point demand will increase and there will be a gap, new homes just aren't built in a day.

Avoid forcing things and be patient and make your decision based on what you want and need, avoid getting caught up in any hoopla, about making vast fortunes.

Did you stop?

We are conditioned that when things get better, there is no need to keep taking the medicine, after all you are better, right?

Unfortunately, humans do likewise with other things too, they stop doing the things they were doing as they feel better about a situation now. Often what happens is in a short time the situation comes back again.

For example, if you have a better relationship with others since you started complimenting them, why stop doing it?

If you have better health as a result of letting things go quickly, why stop doing it?

If you become successful at doing something, why stop doing the things that contributed to the success?

You can prevent a lot of stress, keep doing what you were doing.  

When the mind gets in the way

Very often when there is a task or something to do, the mind gets in the way with all the reasons why it can't be done. This video might help you in overcome that:

It felt better to let it go

Late last year, I was looking for a new cell phone that would allow me to communicate via email and the internet better. I still had a year left on my Verizon contract and they didn't seem very eager either in the store or by telephone for my business, or rather they were if I would just pay the full price $500 and a new 2 year contract.

That prompted me to visit AT&T and the Apple Iphone, who welcomed me with open arms and helped pay part of the early termination fee with Verizon. Not only was I delighted with my new phone it has been great and has saved me a lot of time, it has kept me on track and going in the right direction thanks to the map feature and allowed me to be more productive too.

My final bill came in from Verizon Wireless and it included charges for the rest of the month after I left them, the difference was about $40 and they wouldn't budge. It seems that they can charge a prorated month when you join but not credit you when you leave.

I felt I was in the right and I could see it would take many letters or a small claims action to get it, the time involved though would be a lot, and I would be in that angry energy space for a prolonged time with them.

It came down to would I rather be right and have my $40 or would I like to enjoy peace and my new phone and all that came with that. I chose the latter and have my freedom, which is worth more than $40.

If it were $400, or $4000 it might be a different story for $40 it was a no brainer. As things worked being relaxed, I was able to discover that I have unclaimed funds left in a state I used to live that are more than $100. If I was busy fighting I might not have seen that.

From Attitude to Gratitude: This Is No Time for Complaints

A very good article from the Wall Street Journal of all places, there a re couple of excerpts here, you can read the full article here.

"There may be a positive byproduct of our troubled times: a decrease in the urge to complain. People who still have jobs are finding reasons to be appreciative"

"There is also a growing "noncomplaining" movement that touts the belief that whining doesn't work as a strategy, and that happiness can be found through rituals such as writing in "gratitude journals."

"Granted, it's not easy for many of us to fully shake the all-American inclination to complain. Stereotypes are rooted in truth. A lot of young people grumble due to a sense of entitlement. A lot of older people are crotchety because they've been complaining all their lives. (Down in Florida, my mother describes condo-association bickering as "nitpicking in paradise.")

Quote

"It is better to remain silent and look the fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt" ~ M. Twain

9 success stories

Here is a feature story on 9 students going to college and running their businesses, they are start up businesses and a good representation  of what is possible, recession or not.

Quote

You can read the full article here

"So are we in a depression that justifies a vast redefinition of government and a massive takeover of the private sector? Not quite. What we are a witnessing instead is a sharp downturn from the most affluent era in the history of civilization. For the last two decades, we borrowed and spent as if there were no tomorrow. Now we are living in that tomorrow of cutting back and making do.

In relative terms, it is no longer 2005, but that does not mean it is 1932 either"

Victor Davis Hanson

I hope these articles over the past few weeks are providing a glimmer of hope about the future. I know it's not easy when a lot of people are feeling gloomy, do the best you can.