My Little Stimulus Plan

Well, since returning home in February I have not been able to get full time employment. Heck! I haven't even been able to get part time employment! So I am faced with the same dilemma as many Americans today: do I change careers? go back to school? accept a job that either pays very poorly, robs me of my life or both? When I first got home and the job offers did not roll in I was still optimistic. After all: there was an actors strike that put many projects on hold and "the buisness" is always up and down... right? I thought that patience would be the defining characteristic that would get me the job I wanted. I just had to wait. A strategy that had worked in the past was about to fail, and fail big time. The year I spent out of the country had me extremely out of touch with the job market.

With so long unemployed I began to feel despondent and like there was nothing I could do. I felt unproductive, like I was no good to anyone. With the political and economic situation the way it is I really wanted to help others but I felt that I could barely help myself. When I really did some soul searching I realized that there were a few things I could do to help the community, help myself and feel good about life again.

The Six Things I Am Doing to Improve the Economy
1. I am buying local
As I feel the crunch of financial strain and those pennies become ever more precious to me it is obvious that the strain is being felt everywhere. It is even more important to support our local artists, craft people and farmers. Unlike the government's stimulus plan when you change your shopping habits you can make a direct difference right away in someones life! That farmer at the market or the artist that you support when you need to buy a gift for a loved one will appreciate your dollars way more than big stores. I also realized this is a great time to reward good service with loyalty. If I get good service now, especially at a small business, I make a mental note to shop there exclusively. Also, think about your friends and what they do for a living, if they can help you why not use a friend or a relative if you are going to give your business to someone, anyway? Your friends may not let you know if they are experiencing financial pressure but they sure would appreciate your business!

It makes me mad that these companies that got bailed out where "too big to fail." That whole concept flies in the face of capitalism and the principles that this country were founded on. Be proud to be an American, Buy Local!

2. I am investing in myself
I can't support the communtiy the way I might like if I do not start to be productive and make money. Instead of spending every day ticking the hours away for someone else I am trying to improve my situation. While it can be hard for me to fill every day with a series of tasks with no camaraderie or team to cheer me on I have now realized that every day is a blessing and I have to use it to its maximum potential. I have had to time to cut up a fruit salad and been cooking more for our family which is saving us money and keeping us healthier. I have been walking and reading (from the library) and feel healthy and strong. Knowlege is power and I am trying to take this time to educate myself. Now that I can't find a job I am instead working on my own project: the road is long and risky but the payoffs could be huge.

3. I am re-purposing things and making my space perfect.
Well, all that time on my hands means that I can go into my cupboard and get out all those projects I have been meaning to do; stitching a button on here or painting a chair there can really give me a sense of luxury. Its like buying myself a gift but afterwards I feel pride instead of guilt. I went to the thrift store and got an ugly jacket for $1, the upside? The buttons were amazing and look great on this "plain-Jane" sweater I had. Reorganizing files and emails or sorting and framing photographs have all given me hours of pleasure at close to no cost. And when these projects are done, I feel great!

4. I am walking instead of driving.
Saving money and the planet while getting healthy: need I say more?

5. I am getting creative about gifts.
I love to be generous but when my generosity started coming out of my savings I realized that I needed to get really creative about what I gave to my loved ones. I had to realize that the best presents are not always the most expensive: for my sisters last birthday I went up to her house and helped her clean and organize for two days. She is a single mother and was ecstatic for this opportunity to have an extra pair of hands and eyes, I gave her a great gift that cost me nothing but my time and we had a great time doing it together!

6. I am starting my own buisness
After years of not taking my tallents seriously I am finally going to be putting my jewelry online at http://www.thepaintedhand.etsy.com!
I have been making jewelry for over 20 years and have never had the time or the energy to put my stuff on line. Thanks to the help of Joel Schwartzberg (Love You, Joel!), who was kind enough to take professional photos of my work, I will have a grand opening of my store on http://www.thepaintedhand.etsy.com on September 21, 2009. Thanks to all the other friends who have encouraged me to take the plunge! Here goes!

On a final note, this time of financial uncertainty has made me think of my mother, who struggled to raise my sister and I on a single income and still manage to teach us that we could be whatever we wanted when we grew up. I am both inspired and awed by her. At the moment I will be the only artist featured at The Painted Hand but my long term vision is that it will be a buisness that employs exclusively stay at home mothers so that our next generation can be raised at home by the one person who loves them most: Mom! (back to rule #1) September 21 is my mothers birthday and I am dedicating the grand opening to her and to mothers everywhere.

The stone sharpens the blade, I hope that this time of crisis will make me stronger. If you have any suggestions for "Little Stimulus Plans" please feel free to comment! I love to get new ideas
:)