The Right Time

According to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll of 998 adults showed that Americans have grown more optimistic about the economy, since Barack Obama took office as president.  The number of people that think the country is headed in the right direction jumped to 39 percent from 15 percent during the final days of President George W. Bush’s administration.  The number of people who still think the country is headed in the wrong direction dropped to 53 percent from 79 percent.

These are impressive numbers, since January 20 is only 77 days behind us. 

Optimism, according to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, is an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.

Of course, the most difficult people to convince that things are getting better are the millions of unemployed, the millions who are paying “upside down” mortgages, where their equity is in the minus.  As a special note, credit goes out to the homeowners who are staying the course with their homes and paying what they owe.  These are the true optimists.

Americans who have had their 401(k) savings reduced to minimal amounts have the hardest job to be optimistic.  Credit also goes out to those who are employed and staying the course, continuing to contribute with each paycheck.  My wife recently had her company share of contributions terminated as her company struggles to remain viable, but she is an optimist, happy to have a paycheck.

The stock market is again showing signs of life.  The strongest companies are surviving, even though their earnings are miserable.  This shows there is light on the horizon for them.  The weakest companies have breathed their last, or been absorbed by others, both camps leaving their excessed employees to fend for themselves.  The market thrives on optimism and hope, and that is what is providing the plus days.  Will it rise to former heights?  Yes.  In our lifetimes? That is a question answered differently by optimists and those who are not.

Home sales are also showing signs of life, even if most of the sales are foreclosures.  As banks rid themselves of the “toxic” assets and begin to lend again to other than those with an 800 credit rating putting down 80% of the purchase price, houses will rise in value as demand for ownership increases.  Unfortunately, there is wreckage there as well.  People who have walked away, people who have foreclosed, and investors who bought those packaged mortgage loans that went bad will suffer.

Such is the fate of the speculator.  We have become used to deriding speculators of mortgages, commodities like oil and other areas, so that we have forgotten we are all speculators.  Definitions of speculation include a conclusion or opinion reached by contemplation, conjecture or surmise, and engagement in business transactions involving risk but offering the chance of large gains in the hope of profit.

Were we invested in the stock market and 401(k) with the hope it would go down or stay even?  Did we purchase our home with the hope it would depreciate in value?

We had great hopes.  It was easy to be optimistic when everything was going up.  It’s hard to be optimistic when everything has crashed and we feel we have to start building again.  But that is what makes us Americans – optimism and hope.  Our optimism is being reborn.  We look beyond tomorrow and see the light on the horizon.  Today we survive.  Today we build for the future.  Today we survive so tomorrow we may thrive.  Our optimism carries us forward, eyes on the horizon, eyes on the light.

998 adults is a small sample on which to base the optimistic outlook.  How do you feel?  Are you optimistic?

In an optimism test formulated by Queendom.com (the land of tests), questions ranged from keeping in touch with family and friends, and feeling you can rely on them in time of crisis, to finding good in most people and something positive in difficult situations, dealing with whatever life throws at you, your outlook on finding solutions to a crisis, and whether you will ever give up.

Some of my highest choices in answer to these questions:

• I can find some good in even the most disagreeable people.
• I can find something positive in even the most difficult situations.
• I actively keep in touch with friends and family.
• When I’m feeling down, I remind myself to focus on the good things in my life instead of the bad.
• When I have a difficult problem, I try to look at it from different angles in order to come up with a solution.
• I refuse to give up, no matter how tough things get.
• No matter what life throws at me, I believe that I can deal with it.
• I know how to calm myself down and relax when my life gets too hectic.
• I think that it’s important to maintain a sense of humor when life is particularly rough.
• Given the choice, I think that the majority of people would choose to do good rather than evil.

And my optimism test results were:

“According to your responses, you seem to be the type of person who believes strongly in the goodness of humankind.  You give almost everyone the benefit of the doubt, and accept what people say and do at face value instead of making conjectures about their motives.  You try to find the good in even the most difficult of people, and are much more willing to place your faith in others.  Although your trusting and accepting nature is refreshing, you may benefit from a more balanced perspective.  Unfortunately, believing that everyone you meet has good intentions leaves you open to being taken advantage of.  This doesn’t mean that you should be suspicious of others or their motives, but a little skepticism couldn’t hurt.”

I guess I’m a little too optimistic.  Ok scammers, come get me. 

Command a vital life. Live free.