Lower Expectations
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My old buddy Finis Attlesey used to tell me, “Juan, when you can’t bite em, gum em.” Coming from a guy who didn’t like to wear his false teeth as he chewed his Red Man, that sounds pretty sage. Another older friend used to tell me when I reached the end of my rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.
Older folks living through the 1930’s before WWII could tell you stories about surviving the Great Depression. Not everybody could smile like the Waltons on TV as they dealt with shortages and rationing. Thankfully most people were able to persevere and grow stronger as prosperity began to return in the wartime economy.
Some youngsters now may need to be getting some advice and encouragement from the elders. The problem is that a big part of the country has been enjoying some prosperous times. Going up the ladder is fun; coming down not so much. Consumers are having to adapt to empty spots on shelves, substitutions on your grocery pick up, and general supply chain issues. After having lived in other parts of the world, I’ve half-jokingly said that we’re spoiled people. How many times lately did we grit our teeth at the fast food drive thru as we frequently found it hard to get the size of drink cup we wanted. You had to settle for the blue deodorant can instead of the yellow. It’s hard to find the little styrofoam cereal bowls.
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Sadly every time we buy something or open a bill, you know it’s not going to be good news.
For the overloaded young couples and the fixed income elders, it’s hold your breath and try not to stump your toe. You know that one misstep and the dominoes could fall. Credit cards may have to supplement more of the load for the moment.
Our country has one of the best quality of lives in the world. Up until lately our people have spent less of their paycheck for food than almost any place. The last couple of years we’ve had to start making more choices about what we do or do not have to do right now. More people, especially boys, are choosing to not go to college and go right into the workforce. Although it might hurt them in the future when they start thinking about advancement, at least for the moment they avoid the burden of college loan debt if needed. House prices and rent also seem to be pushing some of the young ones out of the housing market.
Humanly things look more daunting every day. Seems like the hole keeps filling back up faster than we can scratch and claw. It’s hard for us olders to look at the youngers and not be a little fearful. We want them to have the good quality of life most of us have enjoyed. Maybe their frustration comes from trying to get it all now. Just as life expectancy has gone backwards the last couple of years, maybe many of us will have to learn to live with lower expectations and less stuff.
By Dr. Juan Harrison
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