One thing’s for sure that we have all learned, is that no lifestyle or job is a guarantee. Except for a few rare circumstances the days of working at one job and one company until retirement is gone. Recently a friend said to me, “Jennifer, this downturn took my job and most of my life’s savings…how could this happen? I was considered successful!” Then she just shot me a look and said, “One thing’s for sure, it’s time to get hungry, get thirsty, and go and do what will make me happy and make me complete.”

So there it is….many of us know that all the promises, all the guarantees, can they any longer be trusted? Will we ever feel that we have the job that can’t be downsized, or done without? For many years we all thought that we will do the job that pays the most money, regardless of whether we enjoy it or not, and some have found that at the end of that road is a dead end street. All the hopes, passions and dreams we pushed aside, for the paycheck that we thought would always be there, can just as easily vanish.

The great promise of the large 401K, the perfect home, and the mega-bucks job, for quite a few, has come crashing down. If you’re one of them, don’t feel bad…it may be the beginning of an opportunity that will bring you real happiness doing something, this time, that you love. Another friend shared her thoughts with me, angrily saying, “Jennifer, it feels as if somebody came up to me and stole my life’s savings and my home. What adds insult to injury is that particular thief could have been arrested…but in this economic environment, nobody wants to take the blame.” She added, “From here on in, I’m only going to do what I love, for a living. I may end up broke, but at least I’ll be happy, and that they won’t be able to take away from me.” I responded, “I guess you’re not only mad, but now you’re hungry for your passion. God Bless you.”

So many emails, all of them saying the same thing in different ways. What went wrong? I played by the rules. I wasn’t a pig. Something evil went down here. This is America, these kind of things are not supposed to happen, yet nobody seemed to know what was going wrong until it was too late.

I’m writing this essay to let those out there who have been devastated by this downturn, know that they’re not alone. You will come back, but learn, there are always shady people out there claiming to be looking out for us all, yet behind our backs, they’re sharpening their knives. Success can be the best revenge, yet this time let us try to be successful at what we love, and what stokes our passion. Why is it that many times we only find out who cares about us when we go through troubles? Maybe it’s a way to take a good look at our lives, at what we have, and what’s missing.

Carpe Diem,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

In the course of any given day, we experience many different emotions. For most of us, we are affected emotionally by television news, co-workers, the radio, strangers on the street, music on the wind….different aspects in the 24 hour day cycle.  The different feelings we experience take a toll one way or another….joy makes us feel glad to be alive, sadness makes life feel bittersweet, loving feelings connect us to a Higher Power, and Hate…well, Hate shrinks our ability to expand ourselves, and although it temporarily can make us feel better, in the end, Hate solves nothing. It neither expands us, or evolves us….it makes us smaller, and less able to cope.

Anger is different from Hate….Anger is a naturally occuring emotion that can come and go according to circumstances. Some people are less affected by Anger….they make a conscious decision to allow compassion to override Anger. Hate, on the other hand, springs forth from not allowing understanding and compassion to enter the field of emotion….because when those two emotions do, Hate is overcome.  Hate also comes from a lack of understanding….in a way, it is an overdeveloped response to Anger.

When one Hates, their vision becomes clouded….they succumb to the emotion, and are not able to see the truth of the circumstance. Hate usually develops after a long time of not allowing Anger to vent itself naturally, and safely, so that compassion and understanding can enter the heart….it is an emotion born of repressed Anger. But Hate solves nothing, because the actions taken out of Hate create more Hatred, and just as Loving acts create more kindness, the ripple effect can be powerful, and often devastating. It is important to vent Anger naturally and safely, because if we don’t, Hate can arise in its place.

We have emotions to guide us, and protect us….otherwise, we would all be walking zombies. The difference between us and the future robots are our emotions. Our emotions are what keep us civilized, in most cases. Our emotions also keep us connected to the world at large. Always keep in mind that Love is more powerful than Hate, because Love expands the consciousness of a human being, and Hate contracts it. Only when we understand this can we strive to keep our lives in balance….to let Love be our guide, as opposed to Hate.

Take the time to Love,
Jennifer Avalon 

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

 Jobs, foreclosures, divorce, debt, loss and health issues….as terrible and devastating as these things can be, we can come back and rebuild as long as we have Love. Love is the glue that holds the promise of tomorrow and is the ingredient of every positive thing in existence.

Is Life fair? Not always….but we must not forget the journey that we are on is a learning process. These times are the perfect example to show us how basically and fundamentally we need Love in our lives. If one does not feel they need Love, then unfortunately they probably have forgotten how to love. The Ego consistently wants us to believe that we are the Center of the Universe. Sorry Ego…Love is the core that holds the Universe together. It is at those times when we are down on our knees, shattered, that the hand of Love reaches out to pull us up.

All through my life I have watched people over and over again reach a boiling point of frustration and anger until at a pivotal moment they throw their hands up in the air and scream out and say, “I give up!” Out of the clear blue sky time and time again a beam of light from someone appears and says, “Let me help you.” On the evening news whatever natural or man-made disaster occurs, within minutes of the event people rise to help. They don’t ask, “What will I get?” They just say, “How can I give?” That’s Love.

Love heals….Love rebuilds…Love challenges….Love grows. We come to earth, and one day we will leave….but Love goes on and on….the way it should be.

Love always,

Jennifer Avalon

© 2009 Jennifer Avalon

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