Today I sit on the precipice of financial disaster. With the state government having just announced their new budget (i.e. their slash and burn budget), my husband is quite literally in the firing line – from his job.
My hubby is what is known as a ‘shiny bum’ (was a carpenter in the field not works in the office – hance shiny bum!), working in a government department that was deemed “as safe as houses”. Well we all know what happened to Piggy’s house when the Big Bad Wolf came along, and this time the Big Bad Wolf comes in the form of a blow torch-wielding Campbell Newman. And he is about to blow our house right down. Puff!
CAMPBELL NEWMAN CERTAINLY ISN’T A TWILIGHT KINDA WOLF …
With more than a quarter of QBuild heading for the dole queue, my husband could be at the front of line … just before the impending arrival of our very first baby. Handy Andy! Remember we will be dropping to one income as of next year with me heading off on maternity leave (unless I decide to head straight back to work the minute the placenta has slipped out!).
It gets better, dear friends – we are about five weeks away from settling on a $500,000 investment property in a mining town, that we may not be able to afford. And have you had a look at the Aussie dollar at the moment? Appears our mining town may have seen its boom and be starting to fizzle out. Eeek!
Add to this mathematical equation the rising cost of living, the fact that the magazine publishing business is getting harder and harder, and my responsibility for the livelihood of four staff, you’d think things couldn’t get any worse.
Well, you know what? Even if they do get worse, it wouldn’t faze me.
Yep, that’s right, this “glass half full” girl is proving to actually be more like a “glass full to the brim and overflowing” girl. I am not quite sure how I have done it, but I am such a happy, positive little bumble bee that nothing can knock me down – not a feather and certainly not a Big Bad Wolf. If I had a song right now I’d be singing harmonies with the Chumbawamba’s to “I get knocked down but I get up again” (I just won’t be acting out the lyrics, “Pissing the night away …” – not good for the baby and all, but I do wee a lot at night now … ), followed by “Always look on the bright side of life” by Monty Python. Any excuse for a sing-a-long.
EVENT THESE BLOKES ARE LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE… (FROM THE MOVIE LIFE OF BRIAN – pardon the poor tast in humour!)
Where has Happy as Larry, Positive Polly (and probably Annoying Annie) come from? Drugs?
No friends, one thing I have learnt over my 3o-something years is that no matter what happens you have got to “put your big girl panties on and get on with it”. The sun will always shine, and you have to get your arse out of bed and go and get the world – it certainly ain’t going to be served up to you with a cup of tea and toast.
I have also learnt that life is absolutely bloody fantastic. In light of the above you might think my hubby and I could be forgiven for being in the midst of a pity party, but we are doing the exact opposite. We believe everything will turn out fine, and because we think that way, guess what? It will! Yep, simply as that – if you think that things will always work out for the best, they will. No “woo woo” about it, it’s just the truth.
I am so lucky to have a loyal, gorgeous, talented husband who supports me in all I do. I am glowing, half way through a healthy pregnancy. We have a cute, furry dog that sleeps between our feet at night (under the doona). I have a group of successful, positive and beautiful friends, and I have two businesses that are actually doing well, despite the economic doom and gloom. I have everything in the world to be thankful for.
So let me ask you, what are you thankful for and do you look on the bright side of life?
Genine x
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
This is the most inspiring post I’ve read in ages. Thank you for baring your soul. It makes it easier for those doing it tough to start singing. Of course I’ll have that damn song in my head for hours now.
Thanks Maureen! And yes, I’ve been singing it all day! Genine x
Love it – great post! I have learnt a lot in my 20 something years in business, been through recessions, selling property, selling shares, buying shares – riding the roller coaster. My number one lesson is “everything will be OK. The sooner I turn this into a positive situation, the sooner all the good stuff flows” x
Well said – we always have to look on the bright side of life – you are exactly right – every day we get up and check the obituaries in the paper and we are not in them is a good day… best of luck to you and your hubby – not that you need it with your attitude – Donagh
I say don’t even watch the news as it educates our brain that we have to look out for threats all the time – time to look at only the positives I say! Thanks for your comments Donagh, Gx
Hilarious re-interpretation of “P$%^ing the night away” I laughed myself silly!
Exactly! Things always go on and I have learned over my 40something years that if something doesn’t come off something else will as long as you keep going – you ay change course – you may have to change things up a bit but just keep looking forward – everything will be OK.
You are made of tough stuff and you have life intelligence – ie you know what the most important things are in life. You go girl. xo
Thansk sunshine and remember you too are made of tough stuff! Gxx
You rock Genine and whatever the external result is, you will conquer and convert it into an as yet unseen opportunity with style and grace.
We are waiting on outcomes for my darling boy also, mortgages, expensive teens and on the back of my decision to resign last month ..but hey we are overseas and having a fantastic time, I have a brilliant and hardworking capable man, we are healthy and well resourced and now have open possibilities to explore whatever opportunities come next, excited and hopeful for the future … The world awaits
I feel for you, but yes we just have to always think that it will all work out … hard for a control freak like me! Glad you are having a fab time – so excited for you!! Gxx
Just don’t sing so loudly you miss opportunity knocking and it has to come through the window, coz your little dog might do the guard dog impression and scare the neighbours…
Nah, I say go for it luvvy, and good luck to you all!! Got a lot of friends in similar boats, hope you all come first in the happiness regatta.
Oh, and yeah, thanks for the song in my head…
Pleasure Pauline LOL! xx
Love it, love it, love it!! Everything will absolutely be OK, because that is what you are creating & expecting. And even if you do have some more speed humps, you are in the best possible place mentally to figure it all out!! You go girl, this is soooo awesome to see xxx
Thanks Sharon – good to have back up that yes, I will be okay! For once I am not grappling to know what the future holds and going with the flow! Gxx
Well done Genine:)
As you would know from being our Mcees at the My Heart Speak Conference quite often an opportunity is opened by an event that could be considered by some to be a “bad” event.
It is how you deal with what happens and the attitude you maintain that sets the standards.
You have a great attitude and a fabulous energy to withstand anything.
Cheers
Thx Marney! Can’t wait for the next Heartspeak, Gxx
Genine,
Yes life is throwing you a curve ball but you will hit that ball and send it packing.
As we know life doesn’t come with any guarantees.
Nearly four years ago i decided to leave my then marriage. WE had been together through thick and thin for 16 years. I had given it EVERYTHING i had and was for a better term ‘ spent ‘.
With two young children 4 1/2 and nearly 3 I headed home to my folks. With love and support we have gotten there. Financially I have nothing, we owed a bit of money on our mortgage, we sold and the minimal amount wasn’t enough to purchase something else.
Battling through my separation at the time my Dad was diagnoised with Parkinsons disease and my Mum entered rehab 2 times after battling for 15 years although she is nearly 2 years sober which makes me soooooo happy. Just a bit in less than 3 years !!!!!.
With the LOVE and SUPPORT of the wonderful friends and new man in my life I have been able to bounce back. It’s been tough and at times the fight has been too hard but you keep going.
I guess my point is you are BLESSED, whatever happens you have your husband, a baby on the way and a business so life is great.
Money will never buy happiness, some of my friends have it all but remain wanting more and always looking for happiness in material gain. I learnt that lesson and i am so much better off for having done so.
I have always remained positive, the journey has been tough, but with my Dads diagnose and how his life has changed so dramatically, i NEVER take one day for granted. Simple tasks are so difficult for him and it sucks at 58 he is in this position. My children are my driving force, each day i feel BLESSED to have brought to amazing little people into this crazy world. They keep me strong and most of all i believe in MYSELF and i know each day it gets a little easier, Mandy x.
Wow Mandy – you are one bloody inspiring chick. THANK YOU for sharing, Genine xx
I think in this day and age we all have to be responsible, where once we could walk from one job into another, it isn’t quite like that at all anymore. But, remaining positive and having loving caring family and friends can make it easier to accept. I wear my big girl panties daily… sometimes they dangle around my ankles and other days they almost cover my head… if staying positive was all you had… I’m very sure that would be enough to handle anything that is thrown your way…It does help me
Blessings Narelle xox