So they think the recession will still impact us in five years

A few days ago, I read an article with a headline that said a majority of Americans believe we wil still feel the effects of this recession in five years. Yes, I agree.

I've been thinking about the ways in which I, personally, have been affected. One: ATA Airlines went bankrupt owing my small buisness about $10,000. I don't know about you, but losing that amount of revenue put a "crimp" in my financial situation in 2008. That fee would have helped fund a vacation to South Africa my husband and I had planned for January 2009, my annual SEP contribution, and some "just plain" fun projects. Now, admittedly, the $10,000 wouldn't have been enough by itself, but the loss of the $10,000 meant I had to shuffle other funds around. It meant we didn't go to South Africa this year.

Other ways I've felt the recession impact: I believe most people are kinder and more understanding of those who are unemployed or underemployed. I believe most of us think "There but for the grace of god, the universe, etc...go I...."

I personally remind myself to be grateful for the important things in life including friends, family, ability to move about freely, ability to express my opinion without fear of retribution, joy in the sunshine, joy in the moment.

Somehow, I am not filled with "fear" for the future. There have been some tough times and scary times that I have managed to get through. So I continue to have confidence that I will get through these tough times in a satisfactory way.

I think the recession reminds me to choose love not fear as a way to live.

How many of my friends will blog and tweet?

Yes, you know I'm a Boomer, and so are some of my friends. I don't know why, but some of them aren't involved in social networking yet.

About two hours ago I invited a couple dozen friends and business colleagues to participate with me. Wonder how many will check out my blog? Wonder who will accept my invitation to network? Wonder why not?

The idea of making new friends, extending my knowledge, keeping in touch, reconnecting, asking for advice--all appeal to me. Why not?

January already seems like a long month

Yes, I know it's only eight days into the month, but it already seems like weeks. Do you feel it, too?
Every year, it happens; in pre-holiday December, I envision lots of time to "get things done" before the new year. Somehow, I have the mistaken idea there will be a slow, relaxing period during the first week of January. Every year I am wrong. Yes, I keep working during the holidays, but it seems as if all my colleagues take a couple of weeks off and return in January with a long list of things that I need to do "yesterday."
So, here I am, in the early hours of morning, trying to catch up. Guess I should just accept that the first week of January will always have more work than can fit in a "normal" workweek.
Thank goodness I have work. Now, I'm thinking, maybe next week will be slower. Or, am I just fooling myself?

It's great to have friends

Maybe you were different--but when after I finished undergraduate school and starting working "in the real world," I lost my interest in having female friends. Perhaps it was the "times," and the workplace (with men in charge) subtly encouraged us women to be competitors instead of allies. I had enjoyed my female roommates and friends in college, but I lost touch with them afterwards. I just didn't choose to have close female friends for many, many years.

Maybe I was too busy working and dating. It wasn't until I was in my late 30s that I started valuing female friendships again. Now, I am reminded of how wonderful woman friends can be. A friend just stopped in to bring a pot of soup she had cooked. My husband and I had a Dec. 24 dinner with two other couples. One of the women has been my friend for 30 years now.

It's great to have male friends, but I realize how many wonderful, talented, attractive, energetic, brilliant female friends I have. Thank goodness I got over that jealous, catty, fearful time in my life when I didn't seek out women friends. Here's best wishes to all my friends in 2009.

Alice's Art

Thoughts for the New Year

Have you ever considered that it might be more logical to start a new year at a solstice or equinox? Why not start the new year with the vernal equinox--a time of renewal and planting and growth?

Regardless of the reasons for using the calendar that we do, a new year started today--especially a new fiscal year. Like most business people, I am involved in end-of-year accounting and start-of-new-year implementation of business goals.

For AIRvan Consulting, we hope to expand our scope regionally and nationally. We hope to maintain relationships with current and past clients and add new clients. We are offering new services which include website usabililty testing.

Personally, my goal this year is to spend less time volunteering for professional organizqations and more time painting. My husband and I love to travel, but had to cancel plans for a dream trip to South Africa in early 2009 due to the economy. However, we are happy together and extend our wishes to family, friends, colleagues, and all fellow citizens of the world.

Hope for the best and be prepared to deal with whatever happens!

Losing our individual rights

Had lunch with a friend / business colleague today. After discussing how "nigh impossible" it is to make an accurate forecast for 2009 business, we hit upon the topic of losing our individual rights.


We decided that here in the US, a small group of people seem to want our rights limited, and the vast majority--the silent majority--don't seem aware that privacy is eroding.


What do you think?