Mercy Mercy Me (The Economy)
I have never actually seen a ghost—at least, not the kind that leaves you shaking in your shoes, white as a sheet, with eyes as big as saucers in a face that looks permanently stricken. But yesterday I spent about 45 minutes watching someone who obviously had.
I thought I would try to learn something about economics, so I watched the video of Paul Krugman giving his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in Stockholm. I learned more in that one video than I ever learned in economics classes at school. Still, I would have to watch it twice more to really understand what he is saying. I was riveted by his facial expressions throughout, though. He looked absolutely exhausted, and not just from jet lag.
You can see it even more clearly in the 30 minute interview he gave beforehand. He’s trying to keep his game face on, and be gracious about being presented with the Nobel Prize for Economics. But he looks haunted with worry about the economy, wary of any conversation for fear of more bad news, and seemingly itching to get the hell back across the pond so he can keep consulting on various bailouts.
So here’s the dilemma: any serious reading of the day’s financial news—just pick a day, it doesn’t really matter which—can make the average person feel the same way. But when I do that, when I lift my gaze and really study the situation, I become practically incapacitated with fear and am no good for anything, least of all working to improve my financial situation.
Staying lucid in this dream—or nightmare, really—for any length of time is beyond my skill level. I can manage it for a little while, calming myself down from the shock of what is happening long enough to write more, and work more. But this is big and getting worse, and it’s only a matter of time before I slip back into shock about what is going on in the world.
Magically speaking, this is a tremendous opportunity to increase our ability to stay present in both worlds simultaneously. When I get seriously off-center, I have a few tried-and-true ways to re-center myself and carry on. What I would love to hear are all the ways the rest of you have for doing this. Because surely there are some great techniques I don’t know about, and this is the sort of time when we can all use as many good suggestions as possible.
And while you’re thinking about what to post in the comments section, here’s a snip of the great Marvin Gaye, live at Montreaux in about 1980. Enjoy.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I swear: the one thing that works for me is the phrase “this too shall pass” or I start singing “all things must pass.”
If it got me through the death of my father, it can get me through anything.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
That’s a good one, thanks!
December 15th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
In my family, we’re learning a great lesson, taught by a life-long worrier. This woman has been an Olympic-quality worrier…..to the point that if she wasn’t worried, she’d worry that she’d missed something. Seriously.
Well, last month she was diagnosed w/ stage 4 lung cancer, which had also spread to her brain.
There was a period of time (around the diagnosis…..while they thought it was something else) that she was really sick/impaired. Couldn’t read, hard time walking etc.
Now that the diagnosis has been reached, it’s being treated agressively…..and she’s feeling better.
Is she worried? (you’d certainly expect so) No.
She’s learned to enjoy each day. And is amazed what that’s like. The sun on her face, the ability to walk (and read). Wishing, it’s true, that she’d learned this a long time ago……but that’s OK. She’s learned it now (in time, so to speak).
And, I think it’s a lesson for all of us.
Now I’m not suggesting skipping around like Pollyanna.
But you asked about how to carry on. Well, she’s a wonderful example.
The sun is shining & you can enjoy it on your face. Or the rain has returned……you can join the earth in celebrating that oh-so-precious liquid. When feeling overwhelmed, taking the time to be in the moment & be grateful.
And our life-long worrier……she doesn’t worry any more. She’s here. She’s feeling better (and enjoying every minute of it……it’s been made real to her, that it isn’t forever so savoring is important).
And I think that’s something all of us can learn from.
December 28th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
After a dose of Bach rescue remedy, depending upon the severity of physical symptoms relating to this shock & depression, I usually kick back and do something more relaxing that offers another perspective on global financial matters, for balancing excess of data with some diversional entertainment, while still improving my understanding of the paradigms in question.
Watching a film like “1984,” “Blade Runner, ” or “The Manchurian Candidate” could work if you like classics, especially if you could find the original versions. Something more lighthearted like Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” or Bunuel’s “Discrete Charm …” often gives me the fleeting feeling of mocking, shaming and being superior to the ruling junta controlling our financial institutions & their political hired guns now squeezing the life out of us. Reading can also take our mind’s off of one superficial aspect while revealing others more intrinsic to the current currency model, such as Chomsky’s “Failed States” or Poulantzas’ “Fascism & Dictatorship,” both dry but highly recommended for teasing out some of the mechanics behind all these economic apparati upon which our society is too-often based.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Concerning staying grounded…
When I look over the reciepts for the week and pay the bills, I listen to a Darker Shade of Pagan, a Pagan music podcast. It helps to keep my head up. And keeps me connected to something much more pleasing than capitalism.