"Recession Care Package"

In times of need, we always need a care package. In that case, don't we ALL need one now?!

- Mentor (In times of need, this is the person you should call) Someone that you trust and is seasoned enough to give you reasonable advice. Your mentor should be your compass when you are lost and frazzled and don't know where to go. A mentor reassures you that everything will be okay and helps you to garner the tools to ensure that you're okay.

- Journal (A best friend that never gets tired of your stories - good or bad) Writing down your thoughts whether in the heat of the moment or softly in the night can be very freeing. Great stress reliever. Trust me.

- Plan B (Obviously if we need a care package, Plan A didn't work out so well) Get a clue, get a plan. Mope for a minute but while you're moping, time is ticking. Figure out next steps. Don't over think. Just do it.

- Inspiration (Figure out what keeps you going and drown yourself in it) Now is not the time to be modest. If you have figured out what gets you excited and eager to chase your goals, you better grab your inspiration and hold on for dear life.

- Friend (Sometimes we just need the comfort of a friend to see us through) A friend can't solve our issues, but they can certainly give us the strength to endure some of the rough patches. If you have a true friend, they will give you the smile you need to overcome this phase.

- Prayer (Never forget the power of prayer) No matter what we have in our care package, if we don't have faith, we will always be bankrupt mentally, financially, spiritually, and emotionally. Our trials are just a test and it is during these times that we must seek help and ask for guidance. We must also give thanks, just think...light always comes after darkness. This is only a phase, don't get so caught up in the darkness you can't see the light.

If you have these things, you will survive a lot longer in this world, better known as the days of the "recession". Grab your care package and bundle up, it may be a long ride...

Either way...stay FAB!

It's a RECESSION, and...

Okay, so I'll admit times are hard and there's plenty to complain about: lay-offs, piled up bills, lack of jobs, more competition with fewer opportunities, and not to mention the negative energy that seems to be floating around. We as individuals and as a nation is being forced to be more money-conscious and frugal in our spending, we aren't the free spirits that we once were. Every penny counts these days. With that said, the show mustn't stop. In fact, because of the issues mentioned above, we gotta grind even harder. During challenging times is when you can really decipher the "boys from the men", as an old cliche says. Only the best gets considered for the job, only the most driven gets the interview, only the most hard-working gets a raise, only the most creative gets the credit - the list continues. You get the point. This is NOT the time to roll over and throw in the towel. This is the time you have to shine. If you can take a bad situation and turn it good, you'll get more brownie points than you would have any other year - take advantage. No one said this process would be easy. You'll probably have to hit the ground running like everyone else, the difference lies in the fact that your strategy will be air tight, sealed with persistence and hard-work. If you have a job, be grateful. If you don't, this is NOT the end of the world, this is only temporary. You're allowed to a have a moment. Have several moments. Be angry. Cry. Scream. Now get over it. Don't accept defeat, do something about it. NOT WORKING?! Follow me for a second and just think about this. Most of us will be working for a large junk of our lives, realistically retiring in our 60s, we have many many years of work ahead of us. Ask yourself this one question, how often is that you're not working and you get to plan your day as you please?! I am sure the answer is probably slim to never. With that said, use your free time to re-evaluate what you want and devise a plan to get it. Give yourself a max of 5 minutes a day to be upset and get back on track. Don't get angry, get even. Beat this idea of a "recession", don't let the recession beat you.

Moral of the story is this:

We are in an economic crisis, which is causing some financial and emotional stress. This is all normal and at least our peers are experiencing the same turmoil. We're not alone in this. My suggestion is to face this situation head on and figure out a way to climb out of this hole. You've been wanting that time to come when you can really show employers what you're made of, this is your chance. Are you going to be defeated OR are you going to be a champion - YOU DECIDE! Your decision is not up to the economy or even the President, it's up to you! You own your fate, no one else. Our situation is just that, a situation. It doesn't define us, nor is it the answer to our destiny!

P.S. When this period is over, just think, we'll have a really interesting story to tell. FAB will anyway.