What Happens Next? - youramericanmoney
Author: Michelle
Description: I've begun asking myself the following question over and over again: what happens next? After the election, the next year?
Date: 2020-09-28T09:00:00+00:00

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# What Happens Next?

posted on 28 September, 2020

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I’m going to be candid and say that I’m mentally exhausted. I’m tired of fighter jets zipping back and forth across the Denver, I’m tired of seeing the homeless villages that have cropped up in my town. I’m tired of senseless gun violence. I’m tired of the anger and vitriol that I see on social media, television, and in political spaces. I’m tired of the conversations around the cost of health care, education, and just living a solid life in the US. I’m tired. But, what I’ve also begun to notice is that within that exhaustion is a acknowledgement that this is now my baseline new normal because things don’t look like they will be changing anytime soon, regardless of who the next president will be. America is going through what can only be described as similar to the fall of Rome. And now I find myself thinking about the following question quite a bit-What Happens Next? Listen to the podcast for my thoughts on this. The answers may surprise you.

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## Show Notes

- The reality is that it has taken years for America to get to the point that we’re at now. I’m not talking only the previous four years. I’m talking about the last 75 years of our history.

- In personal finance circles you’ll often hear the following: Show me your budget, I’ll show you your values. When you look at the US’s budget it’s very clear how we got here. As other countries invested in their people’s well-being we invested in technology with a business focus. As other countries invested in infrastructure, we moved our manufacturing off-shore a decision that has US consumers dealing with delays in receiving goods made overseas. As other countries recognized that climate change was a real issue and focused on creating business that addressed that very real issue, the US invested in military spending forgetting that we have so many weapons we could destroy the entire planet many times over.

- Right now we’re in an election that literally is the election of all of our lives. But the reality is the damage is done and will take years to fix moving forward. So, the question we have to ask ourselves is what happens next? Especially if the outcome is not the one you want? Because I don’t know about you but I can’t live in a state of constant angst. There’s only so much 80’s glam rock that I can listen to right now.

Life Will Continue On

- I recently read a very heartbreaking article on Medium called “I Lived Through Collapse-America is Already There.” In last weeks podcast I talk about the things that I’ve already noticed that have become a new normal. But, there are some things that I didn’t mention in last week’s show. I didn’t mention the fact that I still go to the mountains and enjoy time in Breckenridge, I didn’t mention that people walk by the homeless camps like they don’t see them and have done that for YEARS. Not four, but for, years. The gun violence that has been increasing since the 90’s that people in the US are so used to that they don’t understand that this just doesn’t happen in other Western Countries. Or, that I spoke at several conferences virtually this summer and make money online. Or, that I eat gluten-free now and workout sometimes at Red Rocks. My point is that within all of this crazy, life continues on. The author, Indi Samarajiva, of the article said the following

“This is how it happens. Precisely what you’re feeling now. The numbing litany of bad news. The ever rising outrages. People suffering, dying, and protesting all around you, while you think about dinner. If you’re trying to carry on while people around you die, your society is not collapsing. It’s already fallen down.

I was looking through some old photos for this article and the mix is shocking to me now. Almost offensive. There’s a burnt body in front of my office. Then I’m playing Scrabble with friends. There’s bomb smoke rising in front of the mall. Then I’m at a concert. There’s a long line for gas. Then I’m at a nightclub. This is all within two weeks.

Today I’m like, ‘did we live like this?’ But we did. I mean, I did. Was I a rich Colombo fuckboi while poorer people died, especially minorities? Well, yes. I wrote about it, but who cares.

The real question is, who are you? I mean, you’re reading this. You have the leisure to ponder American collapse like it’s even a question. The people really experiencing it already know.

As someone who’s already experienced societal breakdown, here’s the truth: America has already collapsed. What you’re feeling is exactly how it feels. It’s Saturday and you’re thinking about food while the world is on fire. This is normal. This is life during collapse.”

He continues to say that life is normal now. But, for 25 years Sri Lanka was actively in a Civil War. What his post reminds everyone is this.

## Life Continues On

- You may not feel as safe, as heard, or as respected but I’m discovering that life will continue on.

- Continue focusing on cultivating your best life within the framework that you’re living in. Actively cultivating joy, being kind to others, and living a life of graciousness is key right now.

- For me that also includes time with family and friends while wearing masks and social distancing.

- Join community focused groups.

- Volunteer

- Focus on improving the place that you live in in whatever small way that you can.

- Focus on being the change, not the problem.

- Speak with civility. In fact, one of the most exhausting aspects of the last 4 years is the complete lack of civility starting from the Presidency down. I’m personally sick of:
  - The anger
  - The lying
  - The name calling
  - The mocking of others
  - The complete disrespect
  - The racism

- Speak Truth always! When you deal in truth you have nothing to worry about

- Be discerning about the people you spend time with. You’re judged by the company that you keep.

- Get your finances in order
  - Pay off your debt
  - Grow your skills
  - Invest and save your money
  - Focus on creating a location independent career
  - These are all tasks that you should take care of anyway

- Keep your documents in order and adult
  - Write your will
  - Get your passport
  - Double-check your insurance coverage
  - Stay organized

- Stay politically active and always vote. If there’s something we’ve all learned-your vote counts. Why would so many people spend so much time and money trying to disenfranchise so many people from voting if it wasn’t important?

- Live Boldly! Dress up, wear that red lipstick, be creative or not. Live your life on your own terms.

- Fall in love, get married or don’t. Have kids or don’t. Get a pet or don’t. Don’t let other people change the trajectory of your life because of fear.

- Be deliberate about where you live.

- Take care of your mental and physical health-especially because healthcare in the US is not a given.

- Help others

Know that no matter the outcome is this too shall pass. There will be an end to this. Maybe not as soon as any of us would like, but a moment like this in history doesn’t last forever. It always burns itself out.

It wasn’t my intention to record such a heavy episode. But, we’re in a heavy moment in time. I can’t pretend or ignore that was is happening isn’t happening. You’re allowed to feel joy even while we’re hurting.

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#### Michelle

I am an obsessive foodie, but not self-righteous with it, love travel, meeting new people, helping you look good, and am freaked out by people who don't enjoying reading...something! Grab a Perrier, read my blog, feel free to drop me a line! Hope to hear from you soon.

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