The impact of the "economic downturn" (don't you love that euphemism?) has finally arrived here in the house on Tennessee Avenue. Almost everyone at the architectural firm where my roommate works has been laid off. Not my roommate, at least not yet. Listening to his story is tremendously sobering and scary, too. The environment for those who remain at the architectural firm sounds toxic with gloom. Yikes.
I'm saying repeated prayers of thanks because as of this moment, I've felt no impact in my profession. All my clients work for the government, or are lobbyists or in fields in which their jobs are not endangered. They are, for the most part, quite comfortable monetarily, so they might not take their Caribbean vacation this year, but are unwilling to forgo their bi-weekly massages. Thank you, oh mighty Universe, for sending these people to my massage table. I mean that sincerely.
It also helps that I'm used to not having any money. Still, it's freaky to see my roommate so worried. We are living in times of rigorous change here in the U.S. May we all hold steady while this storm passes!
22 comments:
Yep i'm starting to get clients through the door with economic worries. Which although terrible for them, keeps me in paid employment...
x
my prayer is that the world starts to see this as a marvelous opportunity to start to do right by the planet. To listen to the poets and the environmentalists, the healers and the philosophers, rather than the economists. Will it happen? Or will we continue to grab and exploit? All i know is, round about october last year, i started to feel like, this is my cue. Now i can really start doing my work.
it is such an awful feeling to anticipate the economic guillotine...
each week I hear of some friend or a friend or family member of a friend who has been laid off...
it these tense and stressful times, I would think your profession has a nice buffer....but the paranoia will still be there, I'm sure.
sending good thoughts and energy toward your roomie....I hope he gets through it all fully employed.
em was laid off right before christmas, we were so worried, but sometimes miracles happen and she was found a job in two weeks! not even enough time for unemployment to kick in!
Tam I am with you 100%. We do NOT need to get back to where we were. It's time to change. YES YES YES YES.
Hello,
Three of my friends have been laid off, but all have found jobs after a couple months. Not great pay, but it's work.
I have faith in our new president.
Scary times indeed. Yet, on a lighter note, your post reminded me of this.
I'm feeling a bit like those spoons right now . . . Lovely, contemplative photo though it is. Tam is right, but the high road is hard to navigate sometimes, no?
This is just such a difficult time. My cousin, who has worked as a chemist for years and years for the same company, just was told she is gone as of July 31.
Hope for the best that is my wish about the economy
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I know a couple of people who have been laid off, and they're still unemployed. But I also have a friend who's hiring at his company, so there is some good out there with the bad.
I feel really fortunate because I only have myself to support, and I don't have very luxurious tastes. There's a lot of freedom in knowing you could be laid off but would still be fine, more or less.
double-digit employment in 4 states now. i need a chocolate bunny and a space bell!
We are definitely feeling it here at the manor. Yikes is right!!
I agree, change is imperative. Lets hope we can do it.
I hope things stay stable for you... we just laid off another person yesterday and one the week before. Our office is practically empty now. Fingers crossed for all of us that this difficult time passes soon. Supposedly California has an 8.1 unemployment rate right now, but I bet it is higher in San Francisco.
We're creeping closer to double digits here, too, and while we are worried, Tam is right in that this is the time to take stock and begin to live with intent, rather than as we have in the past.
I too am without a job and feel for everyone in that situation. The best we can do is look out for each other. Ironically, here, I have no job, but I do have friends and colleagues and the ability to network and keep my hand in, so I can add to my vita and skills. I also write, leave the television off, focus on what I can do to keep my spirits up. I also deal with ongoing medical issues, but enjoy each day.
That might sound strange, but it enables me to focus on what I want and what I can control rather than what I can't.
My best to all of you and the residents of the house on Tennessee.
Love the spoon chime pic (is it a chime?) especially the shadows. Nice compositon. & I agree that these tough times are a good time for change.
Looking at this post, all I can think is: what do those spoons sound like when the wind blows??
Easily distracted, me. :-)
yes, people do need you more than ever at this time. It's good to hear a couple of positive stories in the comments about those who have lost, and re-found employment. my heart and thoughts are with all those whose livelihoods are vulnerable right now. Counting my blessings (again). Oh and i do love the hanging spoons!
I think so many people are worried during these times and no one seems to know what to do. They tell us that we are not spending and so people are losing their jobs, so I keep trying to spend what I can. I do not know if this helps but I know it must, because if those people did not spend than you would not have any business.
So I try my best. It is not as much as before but it is at least something. I do try to save too, so sometimes worry if I save too much will someone lose a job because I am not spending as much as before. Oh my goodness, it makes my head spin to think about it. What is one to do?
I, too, feel fortunate to be in a position in which I can still pay my bills.
Greetings from London.
It is a difficult and scary time for all of us. If we haven't been impacted directly ourselves by the "economic downturn", we all know someone who has.
Glad it hasn't impacted the massage business yet. Those stress levels out there are at a all time high.
What I wonder is this: Will this turn out to be just a phase -- a time that passes -- or will it bring on permanent changes that we can't conceive of now?
The Sunday headline was about NHS (meaning free) stress counseling for those who have been made redundant. I think that the healing services might be a growth industry.
I'm sorry to hear about your roommate, Reya.
All things must pass.... so shall this....
but the tricky part is people need to consciously choose to do what they can to live in a sustainable way... our society is not sustainable, so it's really just been a matter of time before the shit hits the fan in more ways then one, if we are not lucky this is just the first wave, but if we are lucky, this is the last..... may we all grow collectively and individually in a way that allows true harmony and sustainability.... perhaps people will care for each other more and the impact we can make for better or for worse on each other and our planet.....
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