[Genteel Death]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

amen amen. you know I always found work, even if it was hard back braking undocumented manual labor in the docks and warehouses..

but lately, its been hard hard times. Money is truly scarce, and its not for a lack of effort or trying! and many many people in town and the country are feeling this, not just me.

it shifts our priorities and our definition of success, of independence, of earning your keep, of contributing.

now, since even very successful, legit, CEO type people can't find jobs for years even, we must reevaluate our criteria for success. It used to be to say that a person was self-suffecient, that a person contributed financially to the needs of their family, friends and communities. That a person went out to the 9to5 every day..

but today, that is a fleeting goal, hard to obtain. Upwards of HALF of all americans are either out of work, or under employed!! That means money is no longer the only successful thing we can contribute to our households and our communities. Now success is this

1) How much time are you investing in your families' spiritual, psychological and emotional well-being and health?
2) How much of our newly found free time are we spending having good conversations, sharing love, building community rather than just gripping or getting depressed.

The only problem I have with the last part of your post is that the jobless are more likely to end up depressed because their struggle to survive coupled with the constant search for employment will make them feel alienated, with everything that involves.