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An 87-Year-Old's Economic Survival Guide
The Bulletin ^
| February 27, 2009
| Chuck Norris
Posted on 02/27/2009 10:50:08 AM PST by CrystalD
An old Spanish proverb says, An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. I believe that value holds, in or out of a recession. And seeing as my 87-year-old mother lived through the Great Depression, I think her value (and that of those like her) will increase through these tough economic times because her insider wisdom can help us all.
(Excerpt) Read more at thebulletin.us ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: economicsurvival
-snip-
Heres her advice, in her words:
- Get back to the basics. Simplify your life. Live within your means. People have got to be willing to downsize and be OK with it. We must quit borrowing and cut spending. Be grateful for what you have, especially your health and loved ones.
- Be content with what you have and remember the stuff will never make you happy. Never. Back then, we didnt have one-hundredth of what people do today, and yet we seemed happier than most today, even during the Great Depression.
- Be humble and willing to work. Back then, any work was good work. We picked cotton, picked up cans, scrap metal, whatever it took to get by. Wheres that work ethic today? If someones not being paid $10 an hour today, theyre whining and unwilling to work, even if they dont have a job. The message from yesteryear is dont be too proud to do whatever it takes to meet the financial needs of your family.
- Be rich in love. We didnt have much. In fact, we had nothing at all, compared to people today, but we had each other. We were poor, but rich in love. Weve lost the value of family and friends today, and weve got to gain it back if were ever to get back on track. If we lose all our stuff and still have one another and our health, what have we really lost?
- Be a part of a community. Today people are much more alone, much more isolated. We used to be close with our neighbors. If one person had a bigger or better garden or orchard, they shared the vegetables and fruits with others in need. Society has shifted from caring for one another to being dependent upon government aid and welfare.
That is why so many today trust in government to deliver them. Theyve forgotten an America that used to rally around one another in smaller clusters, called neighborhoods and communities. We must rekindle those local communal fires and relearn the power of that age-old commandment, Love thy neighbor.
- Help someone else. We never quit helping others back then. Today too many people are consumed with their own problems and only helping themselves. Whats in it for me? is the question most are asking. But back then, it was, What can I do to help my neighbor, too? I love Rick Warrens book The Purpose Driven Life, and especially his thought, We were created for community, designed to be a blessing to others. Most of all, helping others gets our minds off of our problems and puts things into better perspective.
- Lean upon God for help and strength. We didnt just have each other to lean on, but we had God, too. We all attended church and belonged to a faith community. Church was the hub of society, the community core and rallying point.
Today people turn to government the way we used to turn to churches. Its been that way ever since Herbert Hoovers alleged promise of a chicken in every pot and President Roosevelts New Deal. Too many have abandoned faith and community. We trust in money more than God. And maybe thats a reason why were in this economic pickle.
Now thats conventional wisdom that should be shouted and posted in every corridor of government, every community across America, and every blog on the Internet.
1
posted on
02/27/2009 10:50:08 AM PST
by
CrystalD
To: CrystalD
Is this like the Kurt Vonnegut graduation speech hoax or one of those e-mails citing Bill Cosby?
To: Wally_Kalbacken
Oh, no THAT Chuck Norris.
To: CrystalD
To: Wally_Kalbacken
5
posted on
02/27/2009 11:01:05 AM PST
by
xcamel
(The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it. - H. L. Mencken)
To: Wally_Kalbacken
The lady could be fictitious, but the advice is as real as anyone from that time would give.
6
posted on
02/27/2009 11:01:45 AM PST
by
VanDeKoik
(Just another day for you and me in Obama paradise...)
To: Wally_Kalbacken
7
posted on
02/27/2009 11:03:50 AM PST
by
snowrip
(Liberal? YOU ARE A GUTLESS SOCIALIST LOSER WITH NO RATIONAL ARGUMENT.)
To: CrystalD
Chuck Norris has always been one of my favorites...
To: CrystalD
Excellent advice. Thank you.
9
posted on
02/27/2009 11:40:31 AM PST
by
Marysecretary
(.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
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