The rates go up, the rates go down, this is a natural process, a way of trying to stabilize what  appears to be an unstable economy. There is talk today of the interest rates going down again. The instability in the economy is blamed on the rising cost of energy, on the cost of war, and a consequence that is also a cause - the plunge in the housing market.  I’m sure there is a lot more to this, I’m not an economist.

How do we be optimistic at times when the news media wants to take us down?  I love keeping up with current events…but lets face it, the news media likes to focus on the negative more than the positive.   Remember that the economy, like everything else, goes through cycles, cause and effect.  I’ve been through low interest rates, high interest rates, the gas lines of the early 1970’s, good times, bad times. Yes, there are bad things about lowering the interest rates, like the affect that it has on your savings, money market accounts, etc., but there are good things to…are you buying your first home?  This is a great time, the prices are down PLUS the rates are low.  Are you sitting in a warm home, and eating every day?  You have a lot to be  thankful for.  If you’re struggling, are you receiving some assistance from the government, a church, friends?  Yes, I know some are in very serious circumstances.  And for others of us, yes, things can seem tough at times, at least what feels like tough to us spoiled Americans, but we have loads to be thankful for if we take the time to think about it…don’t want to go there? Okay, be miserable, but I’m going to take some time right now to count my blessings.