Our True Character

Times are getting tough as we start to see companies furloughing employees and closing their doors.  We watch the news everyday and we start to fear living life.  It is a challenge to stay positive and upbeat when all of this is happening around us but we must remember a few things.  Our determination and generosity toward others is what will define us, not the amount of money we make or our employment status.  With every challenge comes opportunities and we must always try to focus on the good and not the bad.  We must be smart and safe but living in fear is no way to live.

Unemployment rates are rising across the country as people are being furloughed or losing their jobs completely.  This is an extremely frightening thing for anyone going through it or anyone who has been through it in the past and now is the time to show compassion and support.  First we must be positive and face these challenges head on.  Living in denial or fear of it will only hinder progress moving forward.  The government offers many unemployment options and benefits for those who have been furloughed and who have lost their jobs.  It is critical for anyone who is hit by this to do the proper research and work to ensure they are getting all the benefits that they are entitled to.  Additionally; many private organizations are out there with the sole purpose of helping.  Most people are happy to donate to the local food bank when they can but many people are reluctant to admit that they need this wonderful organizations help.  Do not be too prideful to ask for help when needed, that is why our communities create these wonderful places.  Just remember to contribute when you can in the future and for those of us who are in a position to contribute make sure to do so.  We never know when we might be in need ourselves.  Our communities and governments exist to help and serve us.  Let them do their jobs. 

It is easy to get depressed when something changes in our lives.  Many of us are comfortable with our daily routines and any change rattles us.  A change in employment status can be hard on anyone and their entire families.  However, no matter how heart breaking losing a job might be it is still an opportunity.  For some families it is an opportunity to spend more time together and an opportunity to change the status quo.  Maybe being comfortable in a job was actually holding you back.  Many people retain jobs because it is the easy thing to do and this major change can serve as a wakeup call.  Some of us have wanted to change career fields or learn new skills and just needed the push to start.  When we are stuck at home and have access to countless amounts of digital media we no longer have any excuses not to work toward a dream job.   For many people, that might involve going back to school or getting some sort of professional certification. Now is the time to figure out what you want to do and start researching.  College and trade certification websites still function, so look into it.  Spend some time figuring out what the next step in life will be.  Do not waste time worrying about a past that cannot be changed.

All of our lives we hear people talking about the American dream and too many of us do not think about what that actually means.  America is a free country and is built on generations of people coming up with new ideas and creating businesses around them.  Do you have any ideas that you have been reluctant to pursue?  If the answer is yes look into how to make your dream become a reality today.  The current crisis will end and when it does there will be plenty of opportunity for commercial growth.  The people who see this and pursue a good idea will have success.  Restaurants and stores will eventually reopen, but what about the ones that do not?   There will be plenty of opportunity in the marketplace of the future, planning for it and being successful in it is the real challenge.   How do you know if your idea is a good one?  The answer is simple, do your homework.  Research local and regional demand and see if your plan fits a need.  Make solid plans and do not rely on change.  Be ready to seize the moment when it appears.  Times will change for the better and people will become successful from the lessons this pandemic has taught us. 

Finally, in these difficult times it is important to explore our own creativity.  Some of us express ourselves through writing, others through music, or even art.  We must remember to save some time for a creative side and to spend some time perusing what we love.  Some of us might eventually make careers out of it and others will never make a dime.  That really doesn’t matter.  Art is about expressing ourselves and we must do it for ourselves.  Others liking it and spending money on it is just a nice bonus.  Set up a small art studio in your home.  You can even set up an online store and try to sell it and see what happens.  Look at it as a hobby and who knows you could become the next great artist.  Just remember to have fun.

Times are tough and it is scary not knowing what could happen, but we must stay positive.  We must stay strong for our family, our friends, and ourselves.  If we work together, we will have more success than individually can obtain alone.  So be friendly, be helpful to others, and stay positive.  We all need strength and we will get it from each other.