where is the joy?

Most agree that economically speaking, 2011 hit many all-time lows. Being in Nevada meant that we were harder hit than many. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment rate in Nevada was 13% for 2011, which ranked us as highest in the country. With one in every 115 households facing foreclosure, Nevada also ranks one of the  (if not the most severe) states for foreclosure.

Surrounded by loss, it can be difficult to find a bright point. There seems to be no end in sight to the financial conundrum we find ourselves in. Houses in Reno line the streets with various for sale signs. I know several people who have turned their keys in and walked away from their homes as values dropped by more than half.

wait there is more…

Reno/Tahoe is known as a winter recreational destination. We boast some of the West’s premier ski resorts in the country. To top it all off, there is no snow in the Sierra’s = no skiing = hurts economy even more. Also it is a total bummer when you bought a season’s pass and haven’t been on the mountain yet this year (actually we bought 4; one for each of us).

what lies ahead?

My daughter is currently a junior in college. What opportunity awaits her upon graduation? It is not sufficient to achieve merely a bachelors degree for many professions. Does this mean we will have to support her indefinitely while she continues her education? Probably.

The good news is that by the time she is finally done, the economy should not be so bleak. There is still hope for her future. My own education is a bi-product of the flailing economy as well. Is it really a bad thing when hard times means you take the time to work on yourself?

lesson learned: there is still joy to be found

I may complain about the current situation (especially the total lack of snow!), but the reality is that it can also be a highly productive time for personal growth. In place of snow sports, we are cycling (weird as it is) through the winter months. We can still be active regardless of the weather.

When the housing bubble was at its height a few years back, we decided to stay put in a home we could afford and were comfortable in. Thankfully, my family is in a better financial place because of our restraint. We recently purchased a new home with nearly double the living space of our old one for a bargain price.

I find joy in simple pleasures like enjoying a bottle of wine with friends. Staying home with my husband and kids watching a bad movie on Netflixis a favorite pastime of mine. Blogging has given me a wonderful outlet for spilling my guts. Knowing that when I get up in the morning I am fortunate enough to have a job that I love is joyous as well.

the 3 banana girls enjoying ourselves at Starbucks

It is through adversity that we find out what we are really made of. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I don’t remember who originally told me that gem. As a kid, I used to hate it when people told me this. In my adult form, I finally understand its true meaning. What has tested your capacity to find joy? What did you learn about yourself through the process? Share your thoughts and stories.

 

Related articles

• Computer glitch delays Nevada jobless benefits (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Is Nevada recovering? Depends on who you ask (sfgate.com)
• Is Nevada Recovering? Depends on Who You Ask (abcnews.go.com)
• Sierra resorts wait for snow as Christmas nears (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Reno Can Do Better (10march2004.wordpress.com)

a selfless act of kindness

Image via Wikipedia

Setting the mood for the story

By any standard, I am a busy girl. As a result, I am nearly always either on my way somewhere, working on something or going someplace else. Summertime is an especially frustrating time to get anywhere on time because of road construction.

Living in Reno, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, we have winters which seem to last indefinitely. The great news is we enjoy winter sports such as skiing, the downside is the roads crumble during winter and can only be repaired when it is warm.

Every day, I travel to work or school, I pass through a giant hot mess on US395 North where the freeway is being widened. At one point, the road bottle-necks into 2 lanes, which can try anyone’s patience during rush hour.

Yesterday’s jaunt to school

Yesterday, I was making my usual trek to school when I noticed  a lone hand thumping a tune on the roof of his car. The gestures were mesmerizing as the radio in my car  played. I imagined the hand was somehow conducting the music I heard.

I was so intrigued by his flourishing hand, that I barely noticed traffic as it came to a crawl. I am accustomed to the slow pace as freeway lanes taper off. There is no sense becoming upset as cars speed up or slow down trying to find a place in the queue.

Suddenly, I realized the person in front of me was not randomly waving to music, but signaling others to get in front of him. Where most people sped up to avoid anyone cutting in line (which by the way, makes the line go even slower) he selflessly beckoned those running out of road to come in.

The greatest kind of customer service

I often talk about how good customer service is about helping others attain their goals. Purchasing products or services are the byproduct of a healthy customer experience. If you feel that someone wants to help you and not cut you off, you want to do business with him instead of running him off the road.

Watching this stranger direct several cars (I counted at least 6) into the space in front, helped the other driver achieve his goal of getting into an open lane. Some car windows opened so that passing drivers could signal back in thanks to the friendly man conducting in the wind.

As well, he helped maintain the rhythm of traffic which was to the benefit of everyone traveling on US395 during rush hour. I will never know why he left enough space for oncoming traffic to squeak in, but I like to think it was because he wanted to serve others.

Lesson learned: wave your hand and welcome them in

When you are helping a client/customer/patron how do you perceive him? Is he an annoyance that is selfishly cutting in at the last second? Do you want to honk your horn and give him the finger? It is better to think of him as someone you have the opportunity to assist. It is your job to find the beat and conduct traffic to and from your business.

 

 

I Brake for Snakes!

Last week was my 44th birthday which was one of my better birthdays on record. I got to spend an entire day with loved ones, doing things I enjoy. For starters, I went on a bike ride with my husband Robert, son Sam, and best friend Yvonne. Life was good. We commenced single file around the corner when Yvonne noticed something black and yellow laying in the gutter; a snake.

A worthwhile day #trust30

enjoying a worthwhile moment on my bike

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let’s face it, there are days which are more worthwhile than others. In the not so recent past, when I felt overly anxious, I would drown out melancholy sitting for hours playing Farmville (nothing worthwhile in the activity). I played until it was dark outside.  Effectively I ignored my family for hours, and was no less stressed as a result of fake farming.

What I consider worthwhile

Prior to beginning the arduous task of completing an MBA while working full time, I frequented the gym an average of 4-5 times per week. Exercising not only helped maintain a healthy body, but it was also a great tension-reliever.

When it warmed outside, my pigtails and lavender helmet were instantly recognizable as I rode my bike around town. I rode with my husband Robert and/or my friends for 40-50 mile rides several times per week. My favorite route began at our house in South Reno and meandered alongside I-80 to Verdi, Nevada. On the trip home we would stop for iced coffee and bask in the glory of our successful excursion.