Sunday, 22 February 2009
Every day were hearing about the stimulus that was just signed by President Obama to stimulate the economy. Since most is going to building new bridges and roads the thought of highway, construction, concrete and iron workers consuming massive amounts of pork sandwiches, tater salad and a cold drink beside the road while tying up traffic for hours, making a normal commute an intense case of road rage- is actually a happy thought if it gets our economy moving!
Seriously there are alot of hurting folks out there and the depression news we hear on the news is just that depressing- I agree with some that say just turn off the tv, radio- except for those things that are positive, try something old school like reading. I have been getting into listening to comedians, reading Proverbs, reading motivational things from authors such as Dan Miller- "No More Mondays". During the great depression companies such as Pepsi, HP, and others were launched. Others grabbed market share during this time to become legends- this is not a time to shrink back and quit living!! Don't isolate yourself from enjoying the good things in life, sure we might have to cut back, but what you can do is be rich in those things that matter- family, friends and simple things to enjoy. Reach out to a old class mate or friend from the past, make a call to encourage someone, do a ARK- A Random Act of Kindness to stranger.
My wife and I did one of those simple things- we went camping when it was 30 degrees at Fall Creek Falls near Spencer, TN. This is a hidden gem in TN, that features breath taking waterfalls, scenic hiking trails and stars so bright you can almost touch them. When I say we went camping, we went camping in a tent, not a hotel, or rv.. a TENT!! It's been a tradition since 2004 to get the tent and go camping in February. Don't worry they have heated bathrooms and showers, but still it's a tent!! We build a real campfire and cut weenie sticks- not hot dog sticks- weenie- you know a green limb to impale hot dogs and then marshmallow to make smores to roast over a camp fire.
It never gets old building a fire, especially when camping enjoying the embers glows and crackle of the fire. We then went a bit high tech watching the DVD "Fire Proof" with Kirk Cameron, inside the most drafty cold tent, snuggled under a down comforter. Somehow a cover that should go over the tent was missing, but we use a tarp that sort helped. Fire Proof the movie was something that really touched my heart, we all can be selfish and not realize the hurt we can cause it was an eye opener and a movie I recommend- I did expect some cheese, but actually the velvetta factor was very low with this movie and show hows we all can be drawn to those things that slowly erode relationships, blind us and take us down a path we just don't realize.
