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My recent Friday Thoughts article on Linkedin.
The past few weeks have deepened an anxiety that already weighs heavily on so many of us. War. Rising prices. Relentless layoffs. Job applications met with silence.
In my post-retirement life of volunteering and coaching, here is what I am seeing and hearing every day:
I recently wrote about the need for empathy in the face of layoffs. One person commented — laid off people don’t need empathy, they need to find a job. That response, I think, proved my point perfectly. There is an old saying that stays with me: I complained I had no shoes, until I met a man with no feet.
To everyone who is worried and anxious — Let me open a window for you. Consider this my open window. Reach out. Ask for help. You are not alone, and you are not a burden.
To everyone who is fortunate enough to have food, shelter, and stability right now — remember, circumstances change for all of us. While yours are good, look around. A small act can change someone’s trajectory — a warm introduction, a referral, a five-minute conversation.
I am happy to pick up the phone and talk. Reach out and let me know how I can help.
And to everyone reading this — please, keep your window open too.
Let’s return to believing in the power of community, and in each other.
#Life #Motivation #Help #Coaching
Thanks for writing a positive and timeless message.
“It is never wrong to do the right thing,” attributed to Mark Twain, seems appropriate here.
In every generation, there are problems one is forced to deal with. It has always been the case, and I doubt it will ever change to be otherwise.
The difference is only what each generation is forced to live with. Is it really harder today than it was in the 1920s and 30s…the 1940s…?
Being empathetic costs you nothing and may actually help someone else. Being charitable is always the right thing to do, whether it is emotionally, spiritually, or fiscally.
I would venture to say some, but not all, of those regularly visiting this site have endured times of great difficulty. I am 75 years old, and although I have enjoyed a blessed life, I have experienced an older brother killed in war, a younger brother who died of HIV, a marriage that failed, job losses twice, the deaths of my parents and siblings, years of estrangement with one of my children, a major financial loss, and yet, I am still here, successfully retired from three different careers, coming up on a 52nd marriage anniversary, and on Monday of this week, I earned my Doctor of Minstry degree, thereby fulfilling a lifetime goal.
The best way I have found to enrich and enjoy your life is in service to others. In times of trouble, when you are focused inwardly, as difficult as it may be to do, at the same time, maybe the answer is to look outward and see what you can do for someone else, worse off than you. And if you are fortunate enough to believe in God, remember that HIS plan and NOT your plan is the right answer.
Mike – Thanks for your comment. What wonderful thoughts and values. Lot to learn. Thank you
What a nice sentiment, Raghu. Empathy can literally be a life saver for someone who feels their circumstance is beyond hope. Being an empathetic person is good, if for no other reason, it helps to make us less self-centered.
Can’t argue with your philosophy, but let’s remember all you list are things that occur all the time.
None of it is uncommon and in fact, there are many times when it has been a lot worse.1973-75, 1981-82, 2007-2009 and of course 2020-21 COVID.
All in all, does 2021 compare with any of those periods … yet?
Correct.
Those comments will not be welcome here, whether true or not.
One reason is legitimate…this is not a political forum.
The other reasons is not…this forum is somewhat left leaning and if your truth isn’t their truth you will be chastised.
Mike, I lean hard to the left, and I do agree with your post. My hat is off to everyone, left or right, who stay out of the mud.
Your bias is showing. The media wasn’t quieter. You also conveniently failed to mention Covid and its impact. Covid and it’s repercussions, unlike today’s wounds, were not, for the most part, self inflicted.
This is a finance/retirement, not a political debate site. If you wish to debate politics I’m sure you can find plenty of other sites to express your views.
Illegal is not a noun.
I would tend to agree with you Richard. That said, I think the feeling is bad times are just getting started, things will be getting much worse, AI is throwing a wrench into many people’s careers, and so all the uncertainty is weighing hard on people.
But hasn’t every major change done the same, personal computers for example, cell phones, big box stores. I used to use an accountant to do taxes. For the last several years I use TurboTax.
Do you remember Tom Mcann shoes with stores all over the country? They went out of business mostly because people stopped wearing proper shoes in favor of sneakers and casual attire.
Or as the well know saying states, “Be nice to people on their way up because you’ll meet them on your way down.”
I have a favourite mug with that very phrase printed on it.
Thanks for your article – I wholeheartedly agree that being open and empathic is a good way to live.
At 52 I recently had to find a new role. I felt pretty confident about my place in the world – a pretty broad range of experience, lots of success that I could point to, good references. But I sent out so many applications, and got almost no results. It was humbling and a bit scary. Fortunately I ended up in a really good role via some personal connections. But this was pretty lucky, and I could have been out of the workforce for considerably longer.
We are fortunate to have enough of a financial buffer to make it through that period, but for many it would be brought them to the financial brink, escalating the stress and worry.