There is an excellent post at Seeing Good: 10 Reasons It’s Awesome the Economy Sucks – The Bright Side of Life
The author gives some very compelling reasons to change your perceptions in order to change your direction:

we’re faced with two choices: a.) Worry, complain, and go prematurely grey or b.) See reality from a different angle and benefit from this experience. Not sure how to change your perception? Allow me to offer some suggestions.

It’s awesome the economy sucks because:

10. You’ll become more resourceful. I’ve always preferred a barter system to the actual exchange of money (mostly because I like to roll around in dollar bills and I can’t do that if I give them all away.) Here’s an example: the day I lost my job, I arranged to do laundry at my yoga studio in exchange for free classes. You got skills—use them. You never know where you could save a little cash.

9. You can redefine success. Most people file this type of thinking right next to, “My mom thinks I’m special” and “Money can’t buy love.” But really, if you lose your job or take a pay cut, count all your other successes. You have friends and family who love you. You’re awesome at poker. You make a mean bratwurst—whatever! Anything you do well other than earn and buy stuff, appreciate that right now.

8. You have an opportunity to minimize. Buying, having, and maintaining a wide selection of stuff consumes a lot of energy. A bad economy is the perfect opportunity to rethink what you really need.

After being “jobless” (and essentially homeless) since October 2008, the Lovely Bride and I have been doing these things as a matter of survival. In fact, more than one of my friends has begged me to write a detailed account of our travels and how we managed to find a job and move to a new state without our marriage imploding.

Let’s have a vote in the comments, do you want to know more about the trip? We both kept fairly detailed journals and took quite a few pictures.

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