I don’t usually “rush to print” here, but these are new times.

I’ve been saying for a year now, “before Obama leaves office…”

Here’s new confirmation of this timeline. Paul Gilding, whom I wrote about a year ago, is now saying his view of the world is confirmed as investors turn away from fossil fuels.

Why am I telling you this? Do I have advice about what we are supposed to do?

My advice is “get your adrenaline up.” We are entering a time of major change.
Of course, Betsy says “we are already in that time.” Yes. So I’ll rephrase: “the major changes we are in the midst of will soon be influencing our personal decisions on a daily basis, as they did during the Great Recession.”

I don’t know how this will develop. No one does. I can offer only really generic advice.

• Don’t extend yourselves financially.
• Be cautious about what you expect from the future.
• Don’t invest in a 10-year CD. (You can trust FDIC will be there for the next ten years, but not much else in the financial markets (says this fellow who knows almost nothing about investing.))
• Suggest that a graduating high school student choose the college closer to home.
• If you are part of a Quaker community in Minnesota and Wisconsin, check out my community-building tool at Four Rivers Friends.

AND

Look to community!

Friends, as we lurch out of the status quo and into a torrent of events that will eventually carry the world, INCLUDING HUMANS, into an environmentally balanced Biosphere, community is our best social safety net. The more we are in relationships with people we trust, the more likely we are to flexibly move through the changes, rediscovering the core of our humanity, creating a new world our grandchildren can feel good about.

Blessed be!

Love,
Richard

Afterthought: I am writing this for my friends, people who know me. You know to take me with a grain of salt. Still, I feel obligated to speak my truth. Take it and put it next to your truth. Talk to friends you trust. Soon.