The month of January is upon us. It’s historically a month fraught with challenges. As the beginning of the calendar year there are high expectations of improvements in all facets of our lives. At the same time sober reflection on personal achievements could be disheartening as few if any of our 2011 resolutions were realised.
The festivities of December, which include family reunions and the conspicuous consumption of yuletide offerings, made it easy to forget or ignore the harsh realities of our mundane existence. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement since the very air was alive with the sounds of Christmas.
Lights! Sound! Action! Spirits were high and spirits of the liquid kind made some of us even higher.
January, named after Janus, the god of the doorway, is now open exposing a myriad of possibilities. Some signal difficult times ahead.
The global financial crisis, which began in 2008, saw the downturn in stock markets around the world and the collapse of large financial institutions. There were numerous evictions and foreclosures in the housing market. Three years later we are still having after-shocks from that major quake. Predictions are that 2012 could still see the continuance of high unemployment, market volatility and a weak housing market.
Most recent figures from the US Dept. of Labour show a decline in unemployment for the month of November and it’s expected that there will be further decline in December.
Most of these jobs; however, were seasonal. Definitely not long term employment. Of notable mention is the news that Sears, the retail giant will be closing 120 stores across the USA.
Close to home (the Caribbean) Digicel has recently announced its plan to offer redundancies to 10 per cent of its workforce across the Caribbean and Latin America.
The buzzword in the boardroom is ‘downsizing’ so stay tuned.
Pardon the messenger if he comes across as the harbinger of doom or more succinctly put “a nattering nabob of negativism’. Being pragmatic, it is my intention to shock you into the reality of the situation if you are not fully aware.
Individually, we have to consciously accept the fact that some adjustment will have to be made as to how we conduct our lives, specifically, conservation and frugality will have to be central to how we plan and execute our daily existence.
Elections here and abroad are on the horizon. Making informed choices when you go to the polling booth is the determinant factor as to the quality of your life as it pertains to your health and wealth. Don’t expect your fervent wishes to be granted just by the act of replacing the incumbent political party with a new one. Expect no improvement to your circumstance just by virtue of a change of government.
Your focus should be on the policies formulated by government to deal with impending financial challenges. Of course there should be other considerations but without fiscal responsibility all is lost.
For too long excessive and unnecessary expenditure defined our existence. The ability to govern oneself by the use of reason took a back seat to reckless spending and wanton excess.
The back to basics I am suggesting has much to do with self reliance and conservation. A recent survey confirmed that 60 per cent of the food we consumed here is imported.
How about that backyard garden to take the pressure of the food budget? This in itself has possibilities for eating healthier and a precursor to lessening your medical bills.
The consumer price index for the third quarter of last year shows an increase by 2.6 per cent. That is not going anywhere but up, as fuel and healthcare costs continue to rise.
Ever consider bartering? This is a method of exchange of goods or services without the use of money. Actually, our fore parents used this practice to their benefit. Farmers exchanged items from their farms for fish or meat. Work days would be exchanged for equal days work on each other’s farms.
The popularity of bartering has increased over the years. North American companies barter $7.6 billion annually. You too can deal for an item or items. The proviso being that the exchange be equitable.
Is there still such a thing as family picnics? More localised family activities provide the opportunity for bonding and appreciation for our natural beauty spots.
Back to basics is not just a call for better fiscal management, family activities or eating habits. It’s also a call for spiritual and attitudinal change.
A hostile disposition, a lack of love and compassion definitely does not give rise to a harmonious existence.
A greater effort at being pleasant and consistently pleasing has the potential for numerous positives, civility being the first that come to mind.
Spirituality, that level of consciousness that emanates from within, acts as a motivator toward doing our best. The nature of this universal commodity makes it available to all humankind. Incorporating this essential into our daily lives makes it so much easier to deal with the challenges over which we have no control.
So bravehearts, steel yourself for the ride through 2012. Be wise in your decisions and not otherwise.
Remember, to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Tim Johnson
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