Let’s stop pretending.  Of all the things going on in the economy, the world banks, the welfare systems of many countries, unemployment, lay-offs etc. let’s just stop pretending.  People are going round speaking in whispers about “the R word”, as if we daren’t say the word RECESSION.  Stop it people!  This is like not saying the name of a disease in case you might catch it just by speaking about it.  It’s not going to happen.  You are not going to lose your job because you talk about the jobs situation where you are.  You are not going to keep your job just because you never said the R word.  It’s real, it’s here and it’s here for a while.  So let’s stop pretending it isn’t, or that whispering about it will make it go away.

 

 

 

Another I’d really like is that - if you have notbeen affected by unemployment, or your pension going up the swanee, or the bank going boom with all your savings - I’d really like it if you would stop pretending that the recession is hurting you.  Stop being embarrassed by having a good job, that pays you well, and gives you enough money to continue to enjoy the good things.  You’ve worked for it.  Enjoy it!  Don’t buy into the drama of everyone having to suffer together.  I don’t mean you should gloat about your good fortune.  But you should be grateful for it and acknowledge it.

 

What you can do is to continue to spend as you would have before.  Support your locality by shopping in your local stores, use local tradespeople when you need jobs done, go to your local theatre, cinema, clubs etc.  Keep the economy moving as much as you can.  Keep employment going by paying fair wages to staff.  Keep morale high by not buying into the “ain’t it awful” brigade.  Don’t join them.  It will not help anyone.

 

Let’s look at what we can do, that might be useful.  How about volunteerism?  Why not look at volunteering in your neighbourhood.  You’ll find some activity that will suit your time and your nature, while serving the needs of your community.  It might be helping out with a local sports team, coaching, doing meals-on-wheels, being a driver for a day-care centre, collecting, fund-raising.  There is a huge range of things going on right now, in your own neighbourhood, that you can help with.  It’ll be good for your self-esteem, good for your self-development and great for your community.  How satisfying is that going to be?