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The Sky Isn't Falling Yet

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2009

The economy is crumbling. War in Afghanistan may last another five years. Layoffs are happening at an alarming pace at companies all over the country. Some states are discussing letting criminals out on the streets to lessen budget woes. If all that wasn't bad enough, global climate change is going to either burn the planet up or plunge it into another Ice Age - depending on which expert you listen to.

Not that I'm belittling any of the unfolding tragedies in the world, but we all need to lighten up just a little. Times are tough, of that there's no doubt. The sky is not falling, however. The last time I checked, the sun was still rising and setting. Laughter was still the best medicine. And, there was still a lot of good news in the world. The problem is, we're not hearing, or paying attention to, enough of it.

America has faced recessions before. Our parents, grandparents or even great grandparents (depending on your age) survived the Great Depression. They made it through by hook or by crook and so will we.

My husband and I sat down the other night, trying to figure out how to make our finances work. Our household income, just like many of our fellow Americans, has been squeezed about as tight as it can go. We're worried, I'll admit that. In fact, we might border on the line of downright scared. If we're looking at the beginning of a long recession, or God forbid, a true depression, we, like many others, could find ourselves in serious trouble inasmuch as our current lifestyle is concerned.

While we were sitting there discussing how to approach the coming days, weeks and months, our 3-year-old wandered into the room. Finances do not concern her. She is blissfully oblivious to struggle, strife and concern. As we attempted a serious discussion, she began to sing and dance to a tune of her own making. She didn't care about mortgage payments, rising electric costs or growing grocery bills.

We couldn't help but smile, laugh and feel the weight lift just a little bit.

In that moment, she reminded us what is important. The world is not ending. Life may change, but it goes on. We Americans, just like our parents or grandparents before us, will endure. One day at a time, one laugh at a time and one smile at a time, we will make it through this.

Perhaps, if we're really lucky, we'll all come out of this only slightly scathed and with a better understanding of what is truly important. It's not our iPods, big screen televisions or houses that are mortgaged beyond their worth that matter. Our families, our communities and our faith are the only things of real value.

Sherri Lonon is the editor of In The Loop

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