Articles Parking Blog

Everyone keeps talking about recession, foreclosures, lost jobs. Bad news all over the place, bombarding us from every little corner. How did we get here?
Before you start blaming it all on greedy rich people who sit on the boards and corrupt politicians I want you to honestly think about it. Aren`t we to blame as well?
We wanted bigger houses and flat screen tv’s (and at least 3 tv’s in the house), we wanted better cars, more shoes and 10 pairs of jeans…we wanted commercials and the main role.
We competed with our neighbors, brothers, friends – if they have it why shouldn`t I? In our heads TO HAVE equals TO SUCCEED. But does it really? Do all those things make us successful? Happy? Fulfilled?
We have movies, soap operas ,reality shows, cell phones, laptops, Pc’s , X-boxes, twitter, facebook, myspace….., we even have computers driving our cars, showing us the right roads….never before has our lives been so technological rich and never before have we been so poor, empty and alone.
Family dinner at the table is replaced by virtual restaurants (everybody is raving about some restaurant game on facebook), coffee with our friends is done over  our cell phones, we hang out online leaving our messages on the walls. What the heck are we doing? Our kids will be unable to carry on a decent conversation because they don`t play outside, they don`t communicate, they don`t share.
Is this an advanced society? Or are we all brain washed? I see scared people everywhere, not a trace of happiness, fear is all around. They fear the “worst” (loosing their jobs and houses).
But what they don`t realize is that it all got started by wanting more than what we could afford. Those houses were not ours to begin with – they belong to the bank until the last mortgage rate is paid off. So, what are we actually losing? AN ILLUSION. NOTHING. A house does not make a home. As long as we have friends and family to stay with, we have a home. And we are going to be fine.
So, if you get that foreclosure notice, or if you lose your job – step outside the house and remember: LIFE IS BEAUTIFULL. You may think it is the end, but it is only a new beginning – a chance for you to be free. That house/car was just a burden  on your back, you were unable to sleep over it. So celebrate – you are finally free.  This is your opportunity to find out what kind of life you really want. Give yourself a chance for a fresh, clean start. You never know what could come out of it.
Lots of people find out later that losing their job or their house was the best thing that ever happened to them because they were forced to be creative while searching for a solution. Often they lead much better lives after the experience. Love life and life will love you back.
And the most important thing: share it with your loved ones.  No virtual reality can replace a real laugh with your friends, no computer can make you dinner, give you a hug or cry with you. When life strikes (or shines) only real people can be there with you and for you.  Just give them a chance. And even more importantly, give yourself a chance.

Ps. I will tell you a true story. There was  a great, loving lady that I met online. She helped a bunch of people with their computer and marketing skills, she used to talk to them over the phone for hours, only to help them. But, one day she lost her offline job. And she became desperate. Her husband had his hours cut, so then they had even less money. She started to worry about her house. She worried 24/7. She couldn`t forget about the problem, it was tearing her apart and instead of focusing on good, she was focused on bad all the time. One day “out of the blue” she started not to feel well. Every day after was even worse. It  lasted for 2  months until she was diagnosed with lung cancer.  She died a month after they diagnosed it – a month ago. It broke my heart. And the hearts of all that knew her.
So what is the point of this story? First of all I think her worrying about everything made her sick. If she knew how it would end do you think she would have worried so much? She spent her last 6 months thinking about losing her house and where did it get her? She lost her life. And the house still stands there.
So, whenever you start to feel desperate, remember this story. And be grateful for life itself.