Five Gifts From the Recession

1. Clarity. The time will come when I update my closet and add new home furnishings, but those purchases will be carefully planned. Intellectually, I knew that my personal abundance did not lie in my possessions, but it did not consistently translate into my spending habits. The economy and Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University changed that. Now I "edit" my entire life more vigorously. Ask me to show you my Frugalista Badge. Clarity also illumines authentic relationships. When life is tough, the last thing anyone needs are fake friends.

2. Entrepreneurship. In December 2007 I voluntarily walked away from the newsroom. By working on my own, life is richer. I am more connected with myself and the abilities God destined me to use. As Krishnar B. Kumar said in his commentary on Thursday: "Jeffrey Immelt, the chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., wrote recently, 'We need to dispel the myth that American consumer spending can lead our recovery. Instead we need to draw on 230 years of ingenuity to renew the country's dedication to innovation, new technologies and productivity.' Economic downturns offer great opportunities for reinvention because the opportunity cost of doing something new (what people give up when they stop doing what they were doing) is low." To me, recession equals opportunity.

3. A delicious romance. We married in 2007 on Cinco de Mayo as rain poured outside, and it's been fun ever since. We honeymooned in Rome and Paris and returned home to start building our entrepreneurial empire. But then the Great Recession entered our lives. I've cooked more in marriage than I have since my mother introduced me to the kitchen. I rediscovered the crock pot and learned how to bake a moist, beautifully brown whole chicken in a gas oven. We make dates out of choosing squash and Israel melon at the farmers' market. We have dreamed about future businesses and resolved political issues from our living room. He's a longtime business man and the Mary Matalin in our home, although he's rapidly moving right of center. (Yours truly is more James Carville.) I've seen other couples explore untapped levels in their relationship.

4. Simplicity. We recently moved to one of Dallas' older neighborhoods -- North Oak Cliff -- and escaped the excessive concrete and congestion of the suburbs. Our rambling back yard, the hummingbird I saw from my home office window, my plans to plant herbs, and even the dog that regularly threatens to poop on my grass have made me appreciate the ground I walk on. We don't have to drive far to go to church, buy groceries or attend events downtown. One of my personal pleasures is glancing from my door as the afternoon fades to evening. I love writing late into the night and actually gazing at the constellations when there's less light pollution. When the recession ends, we'll invest in a telescope.

5. Sacrificial giving. During the past year, as the economy worsened, I witnessed people's generosity. They were squeezed themselves, yet they gave money, supplied computer help and offered job leads. I've heard of well-heeled philanthropists who lost money during the downturn but found ways to help struggling nonprofits. For every business that displayed poor customer service and alienated customers, I have seen others assist fellow entrepreneurs and offer services for free. Some establishments will never get my business again. Some always will.

When the Great Recession ends, may I forget the din of politicking that stormed on while so many hard-working people suffered. May I remember the gifts that allowed me and others to grow and bloom during the midst of it.


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