I’m sure I don’t have to tell you about the level of anger that is blowing through our communities, countries, and the world. There’s a whole lot of people quite angry about what has happened in the past 6 months. The financial downturn has put tremendous pressure on families, friendships, and employment. Oh, one more thing….we have a right to feel angry, we just have to be careful how we use it.

The face of anger is revealing itself right across the board. So many who played by the rules are feeling duped. A few days ago I heard an interview where a Reverend mentioned that he hasn’t lost faith in God, but in the System. Here in the United States the past few days have produced much bloodshed in Binghamton, New York, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Two events where anger and disillusionment reached dangerous levels. Most people out there are quite worried about their jobs, yet rest assured, we will get through this period of turmoil, and I believe we will come out stronger as a nation, and as a world community.

Usually anger rises specifically in one area at a time…unfortunately, in the past 6 months it seems to be everywhere….people losing their jobs, mounting bills, and health issues. There’s enough blame to go around, yet I do believe we are starting to stabilize and turn the corner. The line I’m hearing over and over again from friends and people I run into at the stores are “I’m hangin’ in there.”

The kind of anger we are experiencing can be put to good use. It gives us a chance to reflect, observe what went wrong, and try the best we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Anger, this time, has given us a chance to get finances in order, live within our means, and stop trying to be something that we’re not. It got so crazy over the past few years that quite a few people pretended and lived like millionaires, totally on credit. There was so much credit available that people practically choked on it. I knew that something was up when I started hearing repeatedly the term “Flipping houses,” as a way to make money. A neighbor down the street told me she had three properties that she purchased, no money down! I said to her, “Be careful.” She laughed and said, “Jennifer, no problem….I’m not in the stock market.” Well, we all found out through this housing crisis, if you own a home, you ARE in the stock market! Assets are assets.

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming, as long as we’re realistic. For me, the one thought that has come out of this is, health is true wealth, for sure. And, can you believe it? Frugality has become “hip!” A comment made by one of the victims of the Bernie Madoff scandal had a nice ring to it, for me. She said “I am not a victim, I am a survivor.” We will survive….we will go on….

Live Long and Prosper:)

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon