As I write this tonight, the stock market has taken another plunge, the government is debating a bailout of the auto makers and gloom and doom seems to be coming at us from every direction. The dire financial news of today is likely to become the dire financial news of tomorrow and quite frankly for the forseeable future. The problem is that we cannot allow it to control our lives. Too many of us have connected out financial success to happiness. My thought for today is this. Celebrate life.

November 1st marks the beginning of the Holiday Season for me, from this point out the year is focused on celebration. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, holiday sales, football games, parties and other events seem to get endlessly strung together from now thru the end of the year. While the constant taunting of “buy me, buy me” coming from the stores comes earlier each year, I will make a point this year of turning my criticism of this into celebration of it. No, I won’t shop any earlier or buy any more than I usually do, but I may have friends over for dinner this November, or have a pre-holiday party.

I know that there are a lot of of people out there who are having a harder time this year than they did last year. The Governments stated inflation rate of 4% or so is nothing but a fantasy in the real world and the increased costs of food, gasoline and utilities over the past few years is still causing a lot of nausea at the end of the month. I have two children in college and no idea where next semesters tuition is coming from yet, but we can’t let lifes difficulties get us down. We need to celebrate. Call up some neighbors and invite them over for dinner, chances are they will offer to bring dessert and you will all have a better meal and a great time.

Celebrations don’t have to be fancy, or expensive. Some of the best times I have had in the past few years have been ad-hoc parties on the back patio where neighbors walking by have joined us for a quick meal. I find that food can turn any event into a party, that seems to be the American way. Three or four dollars buys an extra package of hot dogs and buns, so there is nothing really standing in your way. As for the ever present “time issues”, stop overextending yourselves, especially when it comes to work. Yes, your employer deserves a solid weeks value for the pay, but you are no good to anyone once you’ve been ground into dust.

So take a break and celebrate life. Call up a friend you haven’t seen in a while, invite the neighbors over for dinner, or a movie. My wife and I are available most nights this week  Do it today, you won’t regret it.