I’m very excited to announce that my first book has been published. It’s called Redefining the Meaning of Wealth: Discovering Prosperity and Fortune in the Unemployment Line.

This book was inspired when I lost my job as an executive assistant due to the 2008 economic downturn. Deciding it was high time to change my beliefs about what it meant to be wealthy, I began to seriously contemplate what wealth meant to me. I started to write it all down and as a result Redefining the Meaning of Wealth: Discovering Prosperity and Fortune in the Unemployment Line was born.

Thinking about wealth in a whole different way was so exciting to me that I also started this blog while simultaneously writing my book. That said, my book’s content is not a compilation of blog posts nor is it a traditional self help book. It is the musings of an ordinary person (me) learning extra-ordinary ways to experience wealth in a culture addicted to chasing the bottom line.

I open with my story of surviving unemployment, dealing with income loss, and pondering what the heck do I do next? The chapters that follow feature cheerful yet thought provoking essays such as “Luxuries we take for Granted,” Quality vs. Quantity,” and “Redesigning the American Dream.” I talk about the new “wealth” consciousness that starts to emerge inside of me and the questions that arise from the status-quo beliefs I had been taught. Do I really need to own a home to experience the American Dream? How much more “stuff” do I need when my closet is already overflowing with items I never use?

As I looked for ways to add value to my spirit instead of my bank account, I realized what I yearned for was not money. A sense of significance and purpose in my life, meaningful work, and an investment in unique experiences were what appealed to me.

Writing this book was quite the project and there were many snags in the road. I had no idea what I was getting myself involved with when I started on this adventure but like all things in life it has been a great learning experience. It feels good to have completed such a huge task but to be honest it’s a bit scary as well. Writing a book so personal makes you vulnerable to all kinds of criticism but it also gives you the opportunity to reach out and share.

Although society disproportionately still values money too much, I do believe that’s about to change. People are hungry for a more nourishing notion of wealth. I strongly believe a major realignment is beginning in our culture and we are on the cusp of a paradigm shift. Time, freedom, and joy are now in demand. Exchanges of ideas are already beginning to take place, and the thoughts I share in my book are a contribution to that dialogue.

My hope is that the experiences I share will resonate with others and inspire them to start thinking about wealth in whole new light. Sharing is so important. Not just sharing material resources but sharing our thoughts and feelings with each other as well. Only then can we genuinely connect and realize that although we all have differing experiences and viewpoints, at our cores we are all basically the same.

My book is available on Amazon and you can read an excerpt by going to the following link:

Redefining the Meaning of Wealth: Discovering Prosperity and Fortune in the Unemployment Line

Simply click on the “search inside the book” feature and check out a few of my chapters. In addition to hard copy, my book is also available in e-book form on Kindle.

I’m a big fan of e-books because they are environmentally friendly and they keep the clutter at bay! In case you are not aware of it, Amazon has a free kindle you can download. It’s a great way to experience an e-reader if you can’t or don’t want to invest in one at this point.

Free Amazon Kindle

Thanks for letting me share my new book with you today. I hope you will read it and let me know what you think about it.

Wishing you prosperity, peace, and happiness always!

Paige

Sunset over The Hollywood Hills

One thing that never ceases to amaze me, along with the growth of vegetation from the earth and of hair from the head, is the growth of understanding. –Alice Walker

It’s been almost six months since I was laid off from my previous job which translates into six months of reduced income. As I reflect back on this past half year, I realize my situation is turning into a great voyage of self discovery because I’m learning things that are making me a stronger person both spiritually and emotionally. More importantly, I’m finding out that I’m a very wealthy person no matter what amount of money I’m making. As I learn to define wealth in new ways, I’m taking it one day at time, accepting change, and welcoming new experiences. Some of my reflections on this are below:

Taking It One Day at a Time

I find life a bit easier when I take it one day at a time. Whenever I start encountering fears about whether or not I will ever work again or being evicted because we can’t pay rent, I’m reminded of Scarlett O’Hara’s famous quote in Gone With the Wind –

“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”

Now I don’t mean to sound irresponsible but worrying will not make anything go away or get better. Every day I acknowledge that I’m ok for today and I wake up the next day and repeat the process. I’m learning to live in the now and not worry about worst case scenarios because chances are they will never happen. And if they do, well I’ll deal with them when they get here.

Accepting Change

The only constant in life is change. It’s the one thing I can always count on and my situation will continue to change many times going forward. Sometimes it will be good and sometimes it will be bad. It’s all just part of the process and the more I can roll with what life sends my way, the more accepting I can be of the things I have no control over.

Every day, something around me changes. Whether it’s the increase in the price of food at the supermarket or a natural disaster, I have no control. What I can control is how I accept the change going on around me. I don’t have to like it. I may even work to change it, but I have to accept it and feel it before I can move on. Whenever the feelings I encounter seem to be a bit much, I keep in mind the phrase “this too shall pass” and you know what? It does!

Welcoming New Experiences

Every experience in life teaches us something new and contributes to who we are as people. Being unemployed is just one experience in the many more that await me in this life. I can get upset about it or I can see it as a way to grow. I have no idea where I’m going or what will happen to me. Some days I worry what the future will bring and I feel uncomfortable. However, I’m learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s part of being human. Who are any of us to think that life will always be easy and cushy?

So for now, I’m keeping it simple. I have the basics covered- a place to live and food to eat. I’m in love, I’m healthy and I have great friends and family. For today, my needs are met and I am just fine!

Sunset at Playa Zancudo

Not taking into account the reduction in income, being unemployed is actually quite nice. I was unemployed several years ago and I absolutely hated it. All I did was worry about the deficit our household was running each day I was out of work. I would have panic attacks of doom and gloom and I would convince myself that I might not ever find a job again. I anguished about being behind on our retirement savings accounts. Pretty funny huh, since none of us even have any clue as to what the market will be doing when we do decide to cash out.

Since this is my second time to ride this wave, I promised myself I would enjoy every minute of it, because before I know it, I will wake up and find myself rushing to get off to work, and I will have wished I had savored more of my time off. So far, I’ve been doing a pretty good job. I spend a reasonable amount of time each day pursuing work leads and then I let go and forget about it. I’m trusting that the right opportunity will come along at the right time. I have no idea what that will be and that’s what makes it so exciting.

I have been able to catch up with friends I haven’t seen in ages. There has been plenty of time to catch up on reading, crossword puzzles, and new recipes. I go to a yoga class almost every day and take long walks on the beach or around the neighborhood. I have signed up for several volunteering gigs in the next few weeks and hope to sign up for more. My house has always been fairly clean (I am my mother’s daughter after all ) but it’s really sparking these days! I must start inviting people over more often!

I’m learning to live in the “now.” Half of the things we worry about never happen anyway, so why torment our minds with depressing scenarios. For today, I’m healthy, safe, loved, and all my basic needs are taken care of. And tomorrow, I will wake up and practice living in the “now” once again.

What is happening in our economy is no surprise to me. Several years ago, I saw the writing on the wall and began to emotionally prepare for the current sickness that plagues our system. Living in West Los Angeles, I was witness to the drunken party first hand. As property values exploded out of proportion with incomes, and people over-consumed at warp speed ahead, I knew it was only a matter of time before a major economic alignment would take place. LA was not the only partygoer- there were many more in attendance. In the end, I believe that a new economy will surface in our nation that will be more sustainable and will offer a more level playing field. However, reaching this point is going to take a major shift in our thinking. Since not a one of us has any control over how anyone else thinks, we can all start this shift in our own minds.

Now that my time is about to be spent searching for new work and finding ways to tighten the purse strings even more, an interesting mind shift is beginning to take place within me. I’m realizing how little I really need, or even want for that matter, to be happy. I like the simplicity of not owning too much “stuff”, and I like the fact that my precious energy is not wasted on shopping for non-necessity items. When I want a new outfit, I go shopping in my closet or trade clothes with a girlfriend. Instead of pouring over the realtor listings, I now spend more time reading, writing, and socializing with family and friends. I realized we don’t need cable when we can download shows from Hulu.com. Our beautiful home is more valuable to me than ever, and I have more time to sit quietly in our garden and enjoy the flowers. As long as I’m healthy, have love in my life, and my basic needs are met, I don’t have any problems at all.

As my husband and I continue to share one car and do our own housecleaning, I’m reminded of how much we can do without. Suddenly, the items and services I had wanted to purchase seem so unimportant. Family, friends, and my spiritual journey are my main priority now. I’ve even romped up my efforts to de-clutter our home as much as possible, because all the unnecessary things just seem to interfere with enjoying life to the fullest. I am now traveling through life much lighter and much happier. Less is definitely more.

One thing I find so interesting about my soon to be unemployed status is that many people just don’t’ want to talk about it with you. Oh yes, people are sympathetic, but they are careful to not delve too deep into the subject because they are probably secretly chanting over and over: “There but for the grace of God go I”. I think people are scared they could be next, and by avoiding the topic, they don’t have to deal with the possibility it could happen to them. And then there are those people who think their talents are so irreplaceable and their employer could not possibly show them the door. There’s also the group who thinks the media is putting way too much emphasis on the dismal unemployment numbers. However, I heard no one complaining during good times when numbers of 3-4% unemployment were being reported.

I don’t wish unemployment on anyone, but the brutal facts are it’s happening to many people right now. And since I’m about to become one of “those people”, I have been reflecting quite a bit lately about how I feel. I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t think it’s going to be that bad in the long run. Look what I have to look forward to-more time off, a chance to reevaluate exactly what I want to be doing, the possibility of an even better opportunity or job, and more time to spend doing what I love. Several years ago I would have been much more upset, because I would have looked at this as a roadblock to saving more for retirement, saving for a down payment for a house, and saving for countless other little materialistic goodies. Now, I’m not so concerned about retirement or having to have my name on the deed of a house. I’m more concerned now with quality of life, experiences, traveling, and finding work that is meaningful. So if you do find yourself in the unemployment line anytime soon, look at it as a way to reinvent your life and begin new adventures. So if anyone reading this is not working right now, I would be interested in your take on how you’re feeling about unemployment. What are your experiences and what have you learned?

I have surrendered to the uncertainly of my situation by using the metaphorical image of flying on a jet. You know how you feel when the plane first takes off and there’s a part of you that freezes up? However, you soon realize it’s all out of your control and you’re about to ascend several thousand feet up into the air and there’s nothing you can do about it? Well, I’m on a plane right now and it’s all out of my control. All I can do is just sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. I’m actually excited about the opportunity to reevaluate my life and what decide what kind of work I want to pursue next.

As I take mental note of all I have, I realize I have quite a bit of wealth built up. And what really is wealth? Isn’t a lot of how we define wealth just agreement anyway? And isn’t there room for various definitions? This period in my life is giving me a great opportunity to define exactly what wealth means to me. I’m realizing I value relationships, experience, and time much more than material possessions. As a matter of fact, the less I have, the more I realize how truly little I need to be happy!

Reading about these young people gave me so much hope! The fact that these newer generations are realizing that life is not all about work and making gobs of money gives me confidence in our species going forward! I also just love it that they are not all sitting around feeling sorry for themselves. Talk about making the best of your situation when you have no control.

I was particularly fascinated by the reader’s comments. Some felt like I did, but some were outright livid and called these newly “funemployed” slackers. I guess I can understand how some might interpret it that way, but isn’t it time we start valuing our personal lives and relationships as much as our jobs? Why don’t we give the same amount of respect to people who value family, friends, and enjoying life as we give to the people who work themselves silly? I’m not saying there is anything wrong with hard work, but when your life is only about work at the expense of the things that matter to you, I don’t think we are fulfilling our true purposes.

To the “funemployed” I say “good for you,” and enjoy your time while you can. You guys are pioneers in redefining what wealth is! Cheers to the funemployed!

I know several people right now who are unemployed or under-employed and although their incomes may have taken a nosedive, they have plenty of time. Enjoy the free time while you have it and don’t feel guilty, because you will eventually find employment again. Don’t miss out on using this time in your life to do all those things you’ve been telling yourself you would love to do if only you had the time!

This beautiful gift affords you time to cook healthfully, time to exercise, time to sleep, time to be in nature, time to spend with family and friends, time to clean, and time to be in the now! Although I’m still employed until the end of July, I have been grabbing bits and pieces of time here and there to go on an evening walk and read some of my favorite books. Even if you are one of the lucky ones working right now, try to sneak in a little extra of this precious commodity and do something just for you!