Thanksgiving And Foreclosure. Really?
Can you really put Thanksgiving and foreclosure in the same sentence? If you are currently going through foreclosure, or you have already been put out of your house, it may be pretty hard to find things to be thankful for. Sometimes you just have to dig really deep. When your family is looking up to you, wondering what you’re going to do and the walls are crashing in (almost literally) there are still so many ways we are blessed.
This year has been a tough one for us being put out of a home through a variety of circumstances, that I had had for 17 yrs. It’s really immaterial why as the bottom line still comes out the same. As I watch around me, we are not the exception to the rule as more and more families are forced to leave their homes. It just happened to us before all this help came in from the government, the new laws forcing loan modifications, or at least trying to get the lenders to be a little more co-operative with homeowners, the new FHA programs, and so many more options to homeowners today. Of course nowadays it’s not just risky buyers who are in trouble, but homeowners that were prime borrowers are going into foreclosure also. And many homeowners are just walking away from a losing proposition because their homes are worth so much less than what they paid. The repercussions of walking away? Who knows? There was a standard on how it would affect your taxes, your credit, etc. and for how many years, but so many people are doing it now it’s becoming almost “normal” and who knows in the future if lenders of new loans will be quite so unforgiving of these things as they have been in the past.
I’m here to tell you even under these circumstances, there are still things to be grateful for and there is at least 1 person or 1 family in worse circumstances than you. What way you go from here is up to you. You can either keep spiraling downwards until you hit the bottom of an abyss, or you can take the attitude that “This too shall pass” and deal with today looking forward to the future. If you choose the first, you let them win. Just remember that.
If you have family with you, be grateful you’re not facing this alone, even if sometimes you feel it would be easier if you were. At least you’re all in it together. LOL. If you don’t have family with you, be grateful that you have a little more flexibility in your choices.
Be grateful that so many have gone before you that cities, counties, states have enacted laws and services to help you. All you have to do is look. Your phonebook or the phonebook in whatever area you are in is a great source. Most cities have services to help, and if they don’t have something they’re doing that can help you, then they know where to send you to an organization that does.
Be grateful for churches. Most of them, even if you haven’t been in awhile, are willing to help. Maybe it’s time for a visit. You can use the moral support of good people around you to help you through this, even if they can’t do much monetarily. It’s amazing how people will rally to the support of others if you just reach out.
Be grateful for the “free” section on Craig’s List. I know this sounds silly as can be, but there is a ton of stuff for a household or someone in need on Craig’s List. It may not be perfect, or designer, but if you’re having to start over or you have little kids that need clothes, etc. it can be a goldmine thanks to good hearted people who are willing to give their good, but used things away for free. They even announce things like “food giveaways” etc. on there from time to time, or fruit that they have a lot of and won’t use. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with finding something you need and connecting with the person giving it away.
Last, but not least, they say “Well at least you have your health”. I hope in your case that’s true, and you truly are grateful and thankful for that. In the last year I have met a lot of people not quite so lucky. In fact, just today as I was waiting on an onramp to turn, there was a man who had both legs deformed walking with a cane to get money from the cars there. I can’t believe on those legs he stood and walked back and forth as he did. And oh, yes, I’ve read about the “scammers” on the side of the road that make more money a month than most people begging for money, but this guy was legit. I thought about what it must take for him to lose his pride to do what he is doing to survive. I wondered if he had a family. Our unemployment rate is over 12% and do you think an employer is going to hire him when they don’t even hire fully working bodies? I’ve seen a lot this last year, and not everyone going through this has their health. If you do, be ever so grateful. If you’re not doing so well, then do what you can to take care of the health you have. It’s your responsibility.
Okay, I’ve rambled enough for now. If you would like to leave any comments I would be very appreciative. Hope your day yesterday was wonderful and this is the worst of those yet to come.
Lauri Beamish DRE #00950917
