Times are tough - Hey, welcome to the real world!
Everyone is doing it hard at the moment; even those who were once quite wealthy are feeling the pinch. With interest rates on the rise, business on the decline and just plain bad luck, people everywhere are hurting.
I was talking with a friend of mine who has certainly had her fair share of bad luck.
She recently married (for the 2nd time) a guy who was quite financial having made his money on investments and good honest hard work.
While holidaying at a beachside resort a week before Christmas 2007 and heavily pregnant, her husband was involved in a freak accident in the surf and was left a quadriplegic.
Two days before Christmas she gave birth (alone) to a tiny baby girl while her husband (2 floors above at the same hospital) fought for his life. Life had seemed perfect for them prior to this. They lived in a million dollar townhouse, they both drove luxury cars, he owned a new Harley Davidson; she was dripping in diamonds and gold. They often travelled to beautiful places and enjoyed all the good things money could buy.
Then this tragedy struck!
She’s not worked since (with a new baby and a husband that needs 24 hour care it’s impossible). She’s cashed in the investments to help pay the mortgage. The luxury cars have gone and the million dollar townhouse is on the market. Her daughter from a previous marriage has been taken out of her private girls school and sent to a local public school. She’s hocked her jewelry and sold his Harley.
Luxuries and the lifestyle she was accustom to…all gone. They barely survive from day to day.
But, when she’s asked how she’s doing she never complains or tells of her lack of money or change in lifestyle. She says “Times are tough…hey, welcome to the real world!”
So, if you think you’re doing it hard, there are always others doing it harder. We could all learn a thing or two from her I reckon!
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While I disagree that everyone is doing badly right now (I’m not and neither are most of my friends/family) I LOVE this story.
My mom always told me “life isn’t fair” and that has stuck with me forever. You just have to roll with the punches and do what you can.
Her story obviously sucks but I love her attitude.
At least her hubby is alive. And they are together.
what a sad story. yet, you’re right, a positive attitude is so important.
Hi Buffy.
Hope you and yours are well.
Here we are doing OK and actually fairly well since around the middle of last year. Now the previous two years it was scrap and cut back and like your friend.. you did what you had to do to make sure things were taken care of.
I think people just have to remember what’s really important. And while I’ll be the first to admit that stressing over how the mortgage will get paid is a real fear and sometimes a very real reality.. things need to be in perspective.
I always tell my husband.. we’ve been through worse, we made it then and we’ll make it now. We might be stressed and have to make sacrifices, but we’ll be OK.
This too shall pass.
I hope things turn around for everyone and for your friend and her family. Tell her to hang in there!
Buffy,
It’s too true!! My mother always told me, you can find people better off then you and people worst off then you. Thanks for stopping by.
Flo