So the Economy sucks...SO WHAT?!

I know that everyone has problems and issues in their life especially with the highest unemployment and foreclosure rate that seems to still be climbing. I feel that we have no one to blame (ie. presidents past or present) but ourselves. We got ourselves into this mess both personal and business. Our parents and grandparents didn't have as much access to a little devil we call "credit". Growing up in "The O.C." also known as beautiful sunny Orange County California I know all about having bigger and better than your neighbor even though neither of you could really afford what you had even before you wanted to upgrade.

Everyone is so maxed out and "house broke" or "car broke" because there is never enough actual money so they borrow and borrow and then borrow to pay off the borrowed money. I am not exempt from this so I am no Suze Orman telling you what you should and shouldn't do, I am in the same broke boat as everyone else wondering how in the hell I will ever be free from those creditors that helped me get lots of "stuff".

I think this whole recession is going to be great for America in the long run...after all what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger right?! I DO NOT believe we are dead yet. I also don't beleive we have hit the bottom yet, but once we do get there we can only move upwards.

So we have two choices...wallow in our sorrows about how broke we are and blame everyone under the sun for it being their "fault" or we can look at what is really important to us. I just had a baby boy and he has taught me more in his 5 months of life than I ever knew before. Not only did he fight for his life within his first week battling open heart surgery to repair a Congenital Heart Defect, but it also made me see what really matters.

You can take away the money, the gadgets, the "extras", but you can't take away that baby's love...everytime he looks at me. He doesn't know what kind of car we have or how much his toys cost, or even how many inches that big screen TV is in our living room. All he knows is that he is loved and happy to have that love.

I look at it this way, stressing about the situation is NOT going to solve anything, it is only going to make things harder and make you more miserable. Secondly, you cannot change the past so don't have regrets about it, you can only live your life from today on. Also don't focus on what you don't have look at what you DO have, because I can guarantee there is someone out there who is in a worse boat than yours, and maybe they need YOUR support.

This is a time to focus on family and relationships more than money and "stuff" because guess what...you will be remembered for the impact you have made on people...not by what kind of car you drove or how much money was in your wallet when you passed. Use this time to give what you have to others whether that be a hug, a listening ear, or maybe a shoulder to cry on, but know that by helping someone else you are helping yourself.

Stay positive...there are brighter days coming America!