Everyday the news communicates the same message: the economy is not doing so well.

Of course it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to draw that conclusion, but I think there are some finer qualities that are surfacing as a result of the tough times we presently find ourselves in. So coming from an optimist who sees the cup that is filled to the half-way mark as neither half full nor half empty but rather possessing the potential to be overflowing, I present to you the upside to a receding economy.

  1. People are eating around the dinner table more often and eating out less creating more quality time together.
  2. People are using their credit cards less and paring down on frivolous extras that they really don’t need.
  3. People are working on getting out of debt…imagine that!
  4. People are finding alternate forms of transportation like carpooling, bicycles and public transport.
  5. People are rediscovering the art of bartering.
  6. People are wasting less and discovering that leftovers aren’t half bad.
  7. People are giving creative homemade gifts.
  8. People are finding ways to conserve energy like turning off the lights when exiting a room.
  9. People are learning to share again and finding ways even in their own lack to help out those who cannot help themselves.
  10. People are having to trust God instead of the almighty dollar.

Yeah the ecomony isn’t  doing so well, but I think that some of the changes we are making in our lifestyles as a result are long overdue and much needed.