and I feel fine…. – R.E.M.
I’m sure I am not the only person to experience this, but the predictions of the end of “XXXXX” seem to be accelerating. In the last week, I’ve noticed the following things are apparently supposed to collapse any day now:
- Banks in the US due to the weakness in the bond markets
- Currency in the US due deficits and debasement
- Jobs for everyone due to advances in AI
- National US respect due to Trump aggressiveness (or Biden incompetence previously)
- California economy due to flight of population and millionaires
I get it. Hyperbole and doomsday headlines drive clicks and views. And bad dramatic things can and do happen. I’m sure Michael Burry’s prediction of the AI collapse has lots of people worried based on his predicting the 2008 real estate collapse.
Everyone gets there own personal “the sky is falling” messages from their own news bubbles. Just today, I was informed:
If I listened to these, I would just close my company now and give up. But I have a hard time living with a cloud of doom over my head. So both personally and professionally, I have decide on a balance. My choice is to be very optimistic about the future and possibilities. At the same time, I prepare my family, my business, and affairs for eventualities.
This isn’t living with my head in the sand, ignoring changes in the world. Making concrete plans for unexpected setbacks and putting them into effect takes real time and effort. Insurance, support structures, rainy day funds, friend/professional networks, food/inventory backups, and preparations with God all need to be attended to. But having these in place, allows me to live day to day in a “happy bubble.”
And I think that’s a great way to live.