This afternoon my financial advisor held a conference call with 30 of his clients to reassure us about the market and to advise us to stay the course. While describing his faith in the United States its ability to rebound economically, the man we all hire for clear-eyed, sober analysis, had to pause several times because he was crying.
I spoke with him shortly afterwards—he happens to be my brother in law—and nearly broke down myself while reading to him the following quote, dug up by my U.K.-based freelance speechwriter colleague Brian Jenner.
It comes from the late great broadcast impresario Alistair Cook, who I believe but can't confirm was saying it about the Great Depression:
“In the best of times, our days are numbered anyway. So it would be a crime against nature for any generation to take the world crisis so solemnly, that it put off enjoying those things for which we were designed in the first place: the opportunity to do good work, to enjoy friends, to fall in love, to hit a ball, and to bounce a baby."
What's getting you through the night these days?
Writing about completely irrelevant stuff, like being deep in the Morton Arboretum after sunset and chocolate truffles at Moonstruck. And, of course, reading world history.
Of course! Sounds like you’ve got it figured out for now, Diane.
(One thing I’ve done is promised my feverish little brain that if we’re ever in breadlines, I’m going to give myself permission to return to cigarettes. I mean, you can’t expect a fellow to stand in a breadline without a cigarette, can you?)
I’ve been finding myself getting quite upset every time I hear the news and another talking head going on about the ‘bailout’ and the government’s intervention (aka recipes for disaster), which is to say all the time.
So I keep reminding myself of a quote I recently heard which makes me smile and not take myself so seriously: “Those who think they know everything upset those of us who actually do.”
I’m in the second category of course..
And then I go play with my kids and invite friends over for dinner.
I pay attention to what is going on, and try to ensure all financials are okay in my world, but at the end of the day, when your child hugs you, says she loves you, makes you laugh and remember what life is all about, well, that to me, is the key.