ADVICE FOR YOUNG WOMEN ON SURVIVING TOUGH TIMES
Build a pragmatic plan to deal with our changed world
Our purpose of this page is not to make you rich and famous but to spark your imagination about how to find fulfillment, serenity and security by living a life that you can be proud of, one that contributes to a sustainable new world
by Bonnie Bucqueroux
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QUICK LINKS Use the links below to navigate to each of the six aspects: Click here for the form you can use to build your own personal strategic plan |
If you are a woman 25 years old or younger living in the United States, chance are your loving Mom raised you as a princess. To fulfill your destiny, you just need to find Prince Charming, move into your very own starter castle and live happily ever after.
If that sounds like a fairy tale, that's because it is, especially now that we live in a changed world. Understanding the challenges of today requires accepting that the world has been changed forever by climate change, peak oil and economic uncertainty. Sea levels are rising, species are disappearing, food prices are skyrocketing and the stock market is tanking. And no one knows for sure where it will all end.
Pundits wring their hands about the fear that young people will not enjoy the same standard of living as their parents, but they treat the situation as a reversible tragedy. But the truth is that there is no magic key that our leaders can turn to bring back the era of cheap oil and undo the damage that climate change has already done. You also need to know that your parents' consumerist lifestyle was ultimately unsustainable, and it will no doubt be unattainable for you. It was a mirage built on cheap energy, and, even then, it failed to provide a good living for everyone.
This is a daunting reality for today's young women to face. Though the studies do not break out the statistics for females, the official unemployment rate for all 16- to 24-year-olds is 18.4%, almost double the overall unemployment rate, and the real rate is no doubt much higher. Even a college degree provides no guarantee of a secure future. According to Richard Vedder in an article called "What Happens When College Is Oversold," the proportion of college-educated Americans in lower-skilled jobs has more than tripled since the 1960s, going from 11% in 1967 to 34% today. No wonder eight out of 10 college graduates today end up moving home with Mom and Dad. How will you find your way?
The women who will fare best in this changed world are those who are among the first to realize that the challenge is not to restore the traditional American dream but to build a new one. As we begin to grapple with the reality that even the greenest energies of the future won't be cheap, we face a choice between creating a sustainable economic order that provides a floor below which no one falls - and a ceiling on how much any one person can consume. If we don't, the fires breaking out in London will spread around the world, and we will descend into a new Dark Ages. You also need to know that how the story comes out depends in large part on you.
My bias is that ensuring a happy ending requires that women accept more of the responsibility for shaping a new future. While there are more disparities within a sex than between them, having babies makes women think differently about how best to organize our civilization. The ability to produce life grounds women to the natural world, shaping our values more toward collaboration than competition. Building a society that respects nature and all living things means women must play a greater role. The hardest part perhaps is that you are part of the transition generation that must help us get from here to there. And that means young women who care must develop practical, personal plans to get from here to there during turbulent times.
The Six Aspects of Your Personal Infrastructure
The next five years of your life will shape your future for decades, so a little planning now can have a big impact later. My video will help you understand how the six aspects of your personal infrastructure - relational, educational, financial, environmental, physical and spiritual - interact to create your core being. Click here for the form you can use to set goals and milestones for yourself for the next half-decade, recognizing that you need to think through how you will integrate these six aspects of yourself so that you survive today's tough times without losing sight of the person you want to be..- RELATIONAL: Forging bonds with others - Humans are social beings, as evidenced by the fact that the worst punishment we can inflict on a person is to put him or her in solitary confirement. In this changed world, you will need to accept the importance of surrounding yourself with people you can trust to work with you to survive with your being and your values intact.
- Establish your independence - Your relationship with your parents will always have a powerful influence on you. However, this is the time in your life when you must become your own person. Love your parents and learn from them, but remember that they are a product of their times, and your job is to learn how to live in yours. When you make mistakes (and you will), make sure they are your mistakes. This life is not a dress rehearsal, so focus on making good decisions for yourself and those around you.
- Pick the right life partner - The first thing to know about yourself is whether you may be happier single. If marriage is the answer, then what is the question? In a changed world, instead of asking, Will I ever meet the man/woman of my dreams?, you need to ask, What are the non-negotiable attributes that my life partner must possess so that together we can deal with an uncertain future? In our changed world, women will need to be more pragmatic about the reality that we can fall in love with people who may not be the right choice to marry. Love does not require marriage, but marriage must be a partnership that is nourished by love. As times get tougher, think through whether you and your potential life partner can truly support, complement and sustain each other during long periods of adversity.
- Make children a choice - Is having children the right choice for you? Our society puts enormous pressure on women to have children, insisting that they will regret their decision if they do not have kids of their own. Yet as we will reach 7 billion people on the planet, the question becomes how many more people the earth can handle. The question is even more important for Americans to consider since each child born in the U.S. consumes a disproportionate share of the world's resources. Building a healthy and sustainable world benefits from encouraging women to use their nurturing skills in ways that may not add to the number of children already here. That requires making it socially acceptable for women to parent other people's children who need a full-time or part-time helping hand. Step-parenting, adoption, foster parenting. Supporting programs that care for kids. Become a teacher. Or volunteer for programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters. A new study in Michigan, for example, shows that 36% of children do not have a parent who has a job, so it is clear that there are many kids who are already here who need our help. If you elect to have one child or more of your own, think long and hard about how you will find the resources and the time to give them the best start in life possible.
- Build circles of support - Online and off, we need people who can help us that we are willing to help in return. Friends and family can help you network your way into a new job or start a new business. Form a parenting circle in your neighborhood to provide emergency babysitting or just to give each other a break without any money changing hands. It pays to build some support among people who live near you - if the power goes out, you will be glad you already have a relationship with the neighbor who is willing to share water or food. You can also expand your circle by finding like-minded people online willing to help, with information, advice or even a helping hand. In the changed world, you will learn to rely less on paid services and more on organizing your family, friends and co-workers into watching each other's backs.
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We are already seeing signs of a new consciousness among young people like Rebecca Titus. She originally planned to be a geneticist but realized she had the opportunity to use her parents' organic farm to launch a CSA to provide fresh local produce to more than 200 area customers. |
- EDUCATIONAL: Putting a price tag on knowledge and skills - At least for now, we currently live in a society where credentials are king - show me your degree or your license or you don't get the job. That is also likely to last a while, since the people doing the hiring have themselves enduring the hazing of paying for a degree, so they are likely to require one of you. Yet the cost of a college education keeps rising to the point where it is becoming harder to justify the investment. Tuition goes up on average 8% a year, which means the cost of a degree doubles roughly every nine years, while incomes remain stagnant. College debt cannot be discharged in a bankruptcy, so it is imperative to keep your school debt as low as possible:
- Pick a major, not a hobby - Unemployment will likely remain high, and computers and robots will eliminate more and more jobs. The best response to this difficult job environment is to view your education not as a journey to enlightenment but as the path toward a good-paying job. Not that the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake is not valuable. But it is something you can do for yourself informally, without paying high tuition and fees. When you read those endless articles about recent graduates struggling with school debt, notice how many are young women who majored in archeology, anthropology, philosophy, art history or religious studies. All are fascinating and worthwhile fields, but they are not growing. Unless you are independently wealthy, think of them as excellent avocations or hobbies, not as career options. The impulse to do good works is important to many women, but many of those jobs are government-funded, and those are likely to be in increasingly short supply in an era when government is cutting back. Do the research to see which fields are likely to be viable in our changed world. Another good rule of thumb is that the more glamorous the job, the less that entry positions are likely to pay, and the harder it is to climb to the top. I once calculated that Katie Couric makes at least $33,000 an hour. You can aim for those jobs, but learn to love yourself if your position ends up more humble. I know an amazing photographer whose work was recently featured at a local museum. She makes her living as a specialized dental assistant, and that income allows her to buy expensive cameras and travel to exotic locales to take pictures.
- Consider a trade - While the Europeans have invested in a strong trade school and apprentice program, the United States instead has pretended that everyone should pursue a four-year degree and that everyone who does will get a great job. Unfortunately, that often means society at large de-values skilled trades, treating the people in those jobs as second-class citizens. In our changed world, learning to be a plumber, baker, sign maker or dental technician might be a better bet than to be a failed communications major who ends up waiting tables. If money is tight, look for career tracks that do not require a license or certificate and ask to apprentice yourself to someone in the field who is willing to teach you the skills involved.
- Keep costs low - Explore options at the local community college. Even if you need a four-year degree, spend your first two years there. If your college or university sets tuition fees for a range of class hours per semester, always take the maximum. Do whatever it takes to graduate in the shortest time possible. An extra semester or extra year not only costs more out of pocket, but it costs you the income you could have made working in your field. Be relentless in pursuing scholarships and grants. Rent books online whenever you can instead of buying. See if you can share with a classmate. If you must borrow money, look for the lowest interest rates and best terms. Be aware of hidden fees and extra costs.
- Say no to extras - Forget fraternities and sororities. Look for cheap housing, even if it means living further away and taking the public transportation (you can study on the bus). Study Abroad is no doubt a wonderful experience, but save your money and take a trip later on your own for less. Develop the habit of living frugally and carry it into life after school.
- Network with everyone - One of the main payoffs of attending college is to gain access to the alumni network that will automatically think of you as one of their own. Make friends with faculty; introduce yourself after class; drop in during office hours two or three times a semester. Tell your professors what you want to do and ask for their help in getting there. Reach out to your classmates and talk about your dreams; they have family and friends who might be able to help you get where you want to be.
- Learn for free - The changed world will require that everyone must become a lifelong learner. But with the costs of higher education close to prohibitive, you must learn to take advantage of free online resources to learn new skills. The Khan Academy has delivered more than 70 million lessons, mostly in math, free to its visitors, and other sites are beginning to explore this free model. Look for tutorials, online classes and free webinars that can help you stay current in your field.
- Pursue alternative credentials - As the value of a degree declines as its cost increases, seek out alternative ways to acquire and demonstrate your skills and your commitment. If your chosen field offers contests, enter them. Are there student clubs in your field? Join them or start them. Look for professional conferences or workshops in your field and volunteer for free in exchange for a great-sounding job title and a letter of recommendation from the people whose names matter. Long-term local volunteering is another great way to build skills, make connections and learn what you like and don't like to do.
- Re-think grad school - Graduate school was originally conceived as a path to a research or teaching position at the college level. Along the way, getting a master's in a particular discipline became a way to add value to your marketability, while providing a welcome time out to make mid-career course corrections. In the changed world, graduate school risks becoming an expensive mistake. Too many students are hiding out in grad school in the hope the economy will be better when they graduate. But instead of making you more marketable, it risks pricing you out of the job market as over-qualified. Recent changes in Pell grants inserted into the debt ceiling deal by Republicans mean that interest on loans for graduate school begin accruing the moment you sign the loan, instead of being deferred until you graduate. Unless someone else is paying, or you are focused like a laser on a career at a college or university - or unless prices come down substantially - graduate school is not a good bet in the changed world. If you have a passion for a particular subject, explore how to learn about it for free.
- Start your own business while in school - In the old world, you earned your degree and someone eager for your talents gave you a job. In the changed world, there will be far fewer slots waiting for you. Your best bet may be to launch your own business, by yourself or with talented classmates, while you are still in school. The business can complement your major, so that even if it does not provide you a full-time income, it can serve as a calling card to persuade a future employer you know how to hustle. If you want to work for a magazine, start one. Find talented classmates willing to work for nothing to showcase their work. Or start a business outside your major that capitalizes on your skills. Bake signature cupcakes to sell to a local restaurant. Make custom jewelry and sell it on Etsy. You may find that your part-time enterprise can provide a full-time income now or in the future.
- Reclaim the domestic arts - The consumer culture did its best to persuade young women that progress meant avoiding "women's work" in the home. But as our "modern" lifestyle runs up against obvious limits, knowing how to garden and can your own food could become critically important skills. The same for knitting, crocheting and sewing your own clothes. My friend Bridget raises her own sheep, spins her own yarn and dyes it with flowers she grows in her own garden. My neighbor Lisa raises chickens. Learning how to make your own soap and other cleaning products means you don't have to be dependent on products that contain ingredients you can't pronounce.
Finding mentors - Neighbor Lisa raises chickens and sells the overflow eggs to neighbors.
- FINANCIAL: Confronting economic instability - High unemployment, stagnant or declining wages, fewer benefits. You will be trying to launch a career during the toughest times for young people since the Great Depression. So it's time to scale back expectations and develop pragmatic strategies that will allow you to support yourself in this changed world.
- Land a job, not launch a career - In the old world, it made sense to have high aspirations and focus on launching your career. In the changed world, economic pressures and the impact of technology can make entire fields shrink or disappear almost overnight. Your goal is to find a job and hope that it leads to a career someday. And when you have a job, keep networking to find your next job.
- Think multiple income streams - Even if you land a full-time job, keep freelancing or working part-time. Not only will this improve your bottom line, but you will be securing an alternative income stream in case your "real" job disappears suddenly. Those part-time endeavors can also help you build credentials in new areas. Success in the changed world requires being nimble, so that you can shift quickly from one possible way to make a living to another as circumstances change.
- Create and update a set of resumes - As you build multiple income streams, you will need a roster of resumes that emphasize your professional experience in different areas. For example, I have a resume that showcases my teaching, another that highlights my tech skills and yet another that emphasizes my entrepreneurial and business skills. Always keep them current because you never know when you will need one to give someone.
- Start your own business - Create a consulting business around things you know. Turn a hobby into a small online business, through your own website or by marketing goods or services through other sites. Tell friends and family about the things you can do and ask them to help you find clients. Find a niche and fill it and don't be dissuaded by the competition. One of the biggest success stories recently is Five Guys Burgers. Did the world really need another burger joint? Apparently so, provided the new venture focused on quality freshfood and customer service. Find a need and then figure out how you can do it better. Working for yourself rather than working for others means you will always like your boss.
- Avoid debt - The credit game works in their favor, not yours. You need a good credit rating to qualify for low rates on purchases such a car insurance and maybe/someday a home. So you need to make modest purchases fairly frequently, but pay them off immediately. Don't carry a balance. Save up for the things you need. Not only does this give you the freedom to make decisions without worrying about paying for the past, but it leaves room on your credit cards for emergencies you may not be able to avoid.
- Find safe places for your money - You have been raised to think that you would be a fool not to invest in the stock market. But that hype comes from the financial industry that only makes its fees if you give them your money to feed on. Remember that even a 2% handling fee costs you 10% of your investment in five years. So ignore the carnival barkers urging you to come into the tent and buy stocks. The stock market today is a casino rigged against the small investor. High-speed computer trading during the recent turbulence meant the market could drop as much as 100 points in three seconds. The argument is that you will always do better in stocks if you stay in for the long term. Not only is that no longer true, success depends on when you start investing and when you need your money. People who invested in stocks 10 years ago now find they have less money than they did when the started. Today's dramatic plunges mean that you could lose substantial chunks of your hard-earned money overnight, and don't kid yourself that those are just "paper losses" - those are dollars that could have bought you things you need. So where will your money be safe?
- Look for a good credit union - They aren't sexy, but pick a good credit union for your checking account and your savings. Just as bank accounts are federally insured up to $250,000, the NCUA insures credit union accounts for the same amounts. You may need a credit card to build a credit record, but only use it for small purchases or for emergencies, and pay it off immediately (even if that means getting a short-term credit union loan - usually at a lower rate of interest than the card). Check the rules for debit cards. Unlike the rules for credit cards, the rules on debit cards do not always mean that the financial institution will absorb the loss if someone steals or finds your card and uses it. Check the rules before signing up, and if they do not backstop your losses, don't apply.
- Contributing to a 401k - The one exception to the rule about avoiding risky investments concerns those of you who are lucky enough to work for a company that still matches your contribution to a retirement plan. Always take full advantage of those plans. If the plan says the company will match your contribution, make sure you not only contribute that amount but any amount above that for which you are eligible. At a time when few companies are giving raises, offering you an additional 5% to 10% match for your retirement is like getting a big raise. The downside, of course, is that most of these plans are run by insurance companies, not banks or credit unions where your deposits are guaranteed by the government. Moreover, in this era of economic uncertainty, you need to see if your plan offers some sort of guaranteed option, or if you can put the funds into government-backed CDs (Certificates of Deposit). Don't let them pressure you into riskier investments. Just tell them you aren't worried about the rate of return on your investment - you are worried about the investment itself.
- Exploring other (relatively) safe investments - Saving matters. Being able to pay cash for major purchases makes sense especially now that predatory lenders seem to hide fines and fees in the fine print. You can buy relatively safe Certificates of Deposit from your credit union, timed to mature in six-months or one or more years from now. However, the rate of return today is miniscule, and there are penalties if you need to pull your money out before the maturity date. If you think you might need the money, a money-market account might be a better bet. It also pays only a dismal dividend, but CDs today are not much better. In today's economic climate, the goal is not to make money, but to make sure you won't lose money. If you find yourself with a significant amount of money to invest, consider buying U.S. treasury bills, available in $10,000 increments, since they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Despite the talk about default during the debt ceiling debate in the summer of 2011, chances are the only way the U.S. government defaults is if the entire global economic system melts down. How to buy U.S. "T-bills" can seem confusing so make sure to read up on how the auctions work before you invest.
- Access to cash - You should also keep a supply of cash on hand in case an unexpected financial panic means the ATM machines stop working suddenly. (It happened to me years ago in Canada, and you realize quickly how vulnerable we are.) Figure out how much you would need for 10 days to two weeks, then withdraw that amount in relatively small denominations. (Without cash reserves, stores might not be able or willing to give change back.) Buy a fireproof lockbox and use it to store your cash and other important papers. In a pinch, you can filter the bills through big, thick hardback books. While that probably will not foil thieves, the bills will most likely survive a fire intact because the lack of oxygen often means the money survives even if the covers don't.
- Cut costs - Never buy new when you can buy used, and that includes everything from clothes to cars to homes. Grow at least some of your own food, even if it's just herbs on the windowsill (not only does this save money, but it connects you to the knowledge of what it takes to grow food). Learn to cook. Stockpile staples like rice and beans. If appropriate, invest in a solar oven or learn how to build a hay-box oven. Explore ways to turn off the burners or oven on the stove before the end of the cooking time,so the residual heat works for you. Put on a sweater instead of raising the thermostat. Walk, ride your bike or take public transportation whenever you can. Avoid buying a car for as long as humanly possible. (Forever would be good.) Cut coupons but only for necessities like toilet paper (most coupons are for processed foods that are not as nutritious).
- Hire your friends - Spread the wealth, or at least your pennies. Not only are friends likely to give you a good deal, but helping them means they will remember to help you.
- Explore barter - Propose exchanging services with friends where no money changes hands. Join a barter or "slow money" club. Some places issue their own currency or scrip (even the vending machines on the Michigan State University campus where I teach accept Spartan "dollars"). Barter allows you to hang onto the hard dollars you need for major purchases. It also benefits the local economy by encouraging quick turnover for local goods and services. (To learn more, read Douglas Rushkoff's Life, Inc.)
- Forget retirement - It's better to count on having to work all of your life - and be pleasantly surprised if you don't - than the reverse. The days when Social Security was guaranteed are gone. So keep finding new ways to make money that can accommodate your changing physical abilities and mental energies. A realistic goal may be "semi-retirement," where you continue to do things for money but you have a cushion of savings you can use for part of your living expenses. Always learn new things, because not only will that help you find ways to make money, but it will keep you engaged and vital.
- Ask Granny - Our forebearers often had to make do with less. Our grandmothers in particular may be a repository of great ideas about how to live frugally. My mother's mother knew how to forage for mushrooms, and I wish I had asked her to teach me. She also saved the water whenever she cooked vegetables and stored it in a glass bottle in the refrigerator, using it in cooking to add vitamins and as a health drink. To save money, she took bits of leftover handsoap and put them into a piece of nylon stocking she knotted at both ends to use as a kind of loofa in the shower. Ask the women in your family who came through hard times how they did it.
Finding mentors - Neighbor Bridget raises her own sheep, spins her own yarn and dyes the yarn with flowers from her garden. |
- ENVIRONMENTAL: Finding and furnishing your nest - Maybe you are a young woman who loves solitude and dreams of waking up in a home in the woods where you can see the deer drink at the pond outside your window. Or maybe you thrive on the energy of big-city living. Perhaps you a small-town girl - or a globetrotter. Your challenge is to make choices now so that you can achieve your goals concerning your personal environment.
- Place matters - Now is the time to explore options, so that you can make informed choices about where to live. Complicating that quest is the reality that our changed world will narrow your choices. Economics are forcing people worldwide from the countryside and small towns into cities, even as rising ocean levels displace more people. Unless the economy remains depressed, rIsing oil prices will force commuters back into cities, and public transportation is becoming an increasingly important option. If the economy continues spiraling downward, your ability to control your destiny narrows. But now is the time to figure out where you want to live and to make sure your life partner shares that vision. And while it is important for most people to put down roots, you don't want to be among the last people to realize that it's time to go elsewhere.
- Buy or rent? - It's tough to make good choices about hearth and home during such uncertain times. Are we likely to suffer inflation or deflation? Should you lock yourself into a long-term lease to avoid price shocks? Or should you take the shortest time available in case rents fall? Will home prices rise or fall? Those 'bargain' homes in Detroit are a bargain, but not if you face expected major repairs or the price of oil heat becomes prohibitive. Less than 2% of our energy needs are being met by wind or solar today, so we are a long way from making the transition to affordable green energy. Do your research and keep checking Bonnie's blog for assessments of the latest trends.
- Create a cocoon - Even if you live out of a suitcase, you need to furnish a comforting and nourishing space for yourself in this chaotic world. (I found that just carrying a pillow from home helped me carry my nest with me when I was out on the road.) It is exciting to reach the age where you can express your personality in your living space. But you should keep three goals in mind - spend little, make it green, travel light. Look for recycled and used furnishings. Use the Internet for inspiration on making your own accessories - curtains, runners, throw pillows, even ceramics. Buy arts and crafts from local artists and artisans. The goal is also to keep possessions to a minimum. Not only is credit-card consumerism part of the problem, but today's uncertainty means you may need to pick up and move quickly to take advantage of an opportunity or if your current circumstances sour.
- Focus on personal safety - The riots in London remind us that violence can erupt without warning. The United States already suffers a homicide rate four to six times higher than most other countries like ours, and desperate times means desperate people will do bad things. Moreover, women especially must also pay attention to the dangers of sexual assault and domestic violence. Harden your home. Travel with a group. Pay particular attention to your surroundings whenever you are out. Buy a rape whistle and talk to neighbors about how to respond to each other's signals. Safety often does lie in numbers. Read Gavin deBecker's Gift of Fear. He's the security expert who urges women to trust their instincts. Are you uneasy about that man behind you on the street who seems suspicious? Duck into the next busy storefront because it's better to be embarrassed if you are wrong than to be harmed because you didn't take appropriate precautions. And don't forget that it's the people you trust, often the ones who say they love you, who can pose a serious threat.
- PHYSICAL: Take charge of your health and wellness - The United States has never provided universal access to health care, and even with the promise of Obamacare on the horizon, it is not clear whether the situation will get better or worse. Even with insurance, research shows the American health care system could be dangerous to your health. Medical errors kill more than 100,000 people a year, more than double the number of people killed in car crashes each year. So we need to separate the issue of health insurance from the issue of health. Your challenge is to secure affordable health insurance to avoid economic ruin if you suffer an accident or a sudden life-threatening illness or have a baby that requires special care. But you can also take control of your destiny by taking steps today to improve your odds of enjoying good health for life. Your youth will protect you from ill health for a while, but the choices you make now will impact your long-term well-being. Some options to consider:
- Focus on fresh, healthy, local food - Your best bet is to grow all or some of your own food or at least raise some herbs in containers on your windowsill. If you can't grow your own food, the next best option is to buy from trusted local growers. Remember that farmers' markets and city markets vary in their requirements. Some allow vendors to sell GMO and non-organic produce, while other's don't. So make sure to talk with the vendors to make sure you are getting what you think you are paying for. Avoid sugar and salt as much as possible. Control portion size. Stick to whole grains and brown rice when you can. Move toward becoming a vegetarian, preferably a vegan. Industrial animal agriculture is immoral and unsustainable. Crowding animals into confined spaces where they are fed antibiotics not only risks breeding new and dangerous pathogens but it is making those drugs less effective when we get sick. Eat at home as often as possible, and take your own food with you when you go out. Doing so is almost always cheaper and better.
- Filter your water - Whether your water comes from the tap or from a well, filter your water whenever possible. Consider investing in a full-system filtration system since much of the water your body ingests comes through your skin in your showers and baths. Bottled water is a bad option. The bottles themselves waste precious petroleum resources and their disposal is choking landfills, but the water is no better than what you are already drinking - maybe worse. Buy a non-BFA water bottle (I have two that are glass) and either filter the water going in or buy one that filters the water as you drink.
- Walk for free - Unless you make your living as an athete, you do not need an expensive health-club membership to stay fit and healthy. Walking is one of the best lifelong habits, and you can do that for free. A good pair of shoes is essential, but a $100 pair is overkill, especially if they were made in a sweatshop. Investing in a jumprope or set of hand weights also makes sense (or you can substitute soup cans for the weights).
- Explore alternative medical traditions - Most people in India rely on Ayurvedic medicine. The Chinese embrace traditions including acupuncture, reflexology and herbs for various conditions. Many of these options are equally as effective and much cheaper than Western medicine in dealing with various complaints. While acute problems typically require immediate care, there may be cheaper and equally effective alternative treatments for chronic conditions. For example, the over-the-counter herb St. John's Wort that is widely used by Europeans to treat depression might be a good alternative to expensive drugs from Big Pharma that carry their own set of side effects and risks. Or maybe a combination of exercise and meditation will work for you. We are all an experiment of one. Finding effective and safe alternatives to prescription drugs also makes you less vulnerable if a sustained power or computer outage prevents you from securing a refill.
- Deal with any addictions . . . - . . . sooner rather than later. Whether it's booze, drugs, eating, not eating, putting your finger down your throat, shopping, gambling - deal with your addictions now because each passing year only makes it harder. What you do today is setting the stage for the habits of a lifetime. A glass of wine with dinner now and then won't kill you but anything else is dangerous, expensive and counter-productive. Consciousness is a wonderful gift, so hang onto it. In this era, you will want your wits about you.
- SPIRITUAL: Search for serenity and fulfillment - Women are usually wise enough to understand that the purpose of life is not to die with the most toys. Yet young women have been bombarded from birth to believe that happiness and fulfillment depend on buying things. Many of you soon learn that dashing to the mall to buy the latest item often leads to a sense of hollowness almost immediately after you make the purchase. True fulfillment depends on learning to love yourself and forging positive relationships with those around you, whether you follow a specific religious tradition or find meaning within a framework you develop for yourself. Finding peace, meaning and spiritual fulfillment in a materalistic and competitive society such as ours can be difficult, but attainable.
- Bring your actions and your values into balance - If you believe in kindness, in leaving the world a better place than you found it, in collaboration more than competition, then your life's journey demands that you keep trying to find ways to express your values in your deeds. Don't beat yourself up for not being perfect already. Just keep moving toward the light in all that you do.
- Acknowledge your beauty - Corporations spend millions hiring marketers whose "genius" is to make you feel bad about yourself so you will buy their goods and services. Hold onto your self-esteem by pushing back against this assault in any way you can. And work to help men understand how they are manipulated..
- Do things that make you joyful - Living in turbulent times is stressful. Worrying about the future wears you out. Even during the worst of times, carve out the space and time to do things that bring joy to your life.
- Help others - Surviving tough times requires that we all do the best job we can of taking care of each other.
Fitting the pieces together
The goal is not only to take steps to ensure your own well-being but the overall health of our society and the planet. It is possible to lead a fulfilling and authentic life while taking steps to ensure your own survival, but think of it as process not as an end point.
Integrating the six aspects into the infrastructure of your core being is a life work in progress. Being thoughtful about your choices and remembering the importance of balance will help. Remember that it is not what happens to you in life that matters as much as what you do with what happens to you.
'Skeletons' at sunrise by Trey Ratcliff of Stuck in Customs