Today, November 27, The Diane Rehm Show, www.thedianerehm.org, focused on the loss of the American Dream. (I encourage you to listen to the podcast.) There were many poignant stories of individuals who followed the rules—did everything right and still fell behind.  There were many reasons why—loss of job or health, cost of health care, lack of education, government services, union issues, housing, etc.

As we know, in this political climate it will be a long time before the government is able to do anything substantial. However, there are still some things individuals can begin to do on their own.  In Upside:  How to Zig when Life Zags, we encourage individuals to reinvent their American Dream—that means start over.  Wipe the slate clean of expectations, things that worked in the past.  In today’s world, we must constantly invent. We must also think about alternatives in every aspect of our lives—where and how we live, how to educate our children, how to save money, and how to protect our health.

As I watched the frenzy on Black Friday, I was amazed that people are still being tempted to spend even during these difficult times.  I have nothing against purchasing goods but that day could have been spent enjoying family and brainstorming the next steps for many during this transition.

None of this is easy but we aren’t alone.  We must find the courage and the mental and physical resources to move on and find the answers.  We must be strong and commit to being resourceful and find others with which to share the journey.

I wish you luck on this difficult journey.

Bonnie Michaels