Why You Should Be Grateful for $4 Gas

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I had been out of work for over two months so times have been on the hard side for us. Fortunately, I was able to find a job with my old company. OK, I'm now a recruiter, no longer an engineer and the job is only part time. On the other hand, I had saved money and prepared for a rainy day. Guess what? It rained! If you want a guarantee in life, there it is. Life is hard and things can always get worse. (By the way, when I’m recruiting, no one with an attitude problem gets referred for the job.)
You won’t find me complaining but you will find me working at problems. While I was off work, I took on several projects around the house and thereby saved something on the order of $5,000. I spent lots of time with my family and new grandson. I volunteered at church and took a group of 11 year old boys to camp for a week. I did not have time to whine or complain.
I bought many gallons of gasoline at almost $4 per gallon. I didn’t enjoy paying $60 for a fill-up any more than I enjoyed paying $30. But, I was able to buy all the gas I needed and only had to wait in line when I found the cheaper priced gas. Not once did I see a sign that said that there was no gas to be had. Who ever said you were supposed to enjoy buying gasoline, anyway?
I started driving my paid-for, 100K mile cars a little slower because they burn less gas that way. I also saved some of that money mentioned above by doing some maintenance work on the cars. I tell you, nothing rides nicer than a paid-for car with a new set of shock absorbers!
As you may have surmised by now, I have no patience with whining or complaining. I suggest that you put your energy to work solving your problems instead of complaining about things over which you have no control. Most folks have had to work very hard to get anywhere in life.
Parting shot: By now there are some people who are really angry at me for having such a blatantly tough, optimistic attitude. I'm not that mean and I do feel a little sorry for you. I think it’s terrible that nobody ever taught you that sometimes things get tough. That’s when you get tougher! Now, here is your opportunity to quit feeling sorry for yourself and learn that the difference between success and failure is effort. That is something else to be grateful for.
Jon Gordon, you are right on target and I will buy your book. Ms. Wolgemuth, thank you for sharing this story.

Mark of TX 1:55AM July 24, 2008

I do not enjoy paying $4/gallon. I do not expect Washington to solve market problems, but I do expect them to reasonably level the playing feel so that with good ethics, ambition and effort I can come from a poor family and achieve a high standard of living, without the government on my back. I have lived/traveled on three other continents and numerous countries while in the military and never saw freedom and opportunity like we have here. Now we must all work to preserve our economic and energy independence which is the greatest challenge to our freedom. $700 Billion and counting going to foreign energy suppliers will enslave us faster than any terrorist.

of NY 1:58PM July 23, 2008

I'm all for gratitude and a stronger immune system as a result.
But only the people (such as author above) who do not have to go into debt to drive to their working-class jobs can be so cavalier about applying the concpet to gas prices.

Daniel David of NM 10:43AM July 23, 2008

Some people have rocks in their head and others have air!
Replace the dip sticks in Washinton who tell us that oil is bad, coal is bad, nuclear is bad, wind and solar are bad, oil shale is bad while we export American jobs resulting in a falling economy, 700 billion of oil imports from countries that don't like us, resulting in importing everything from energy to food.
We also get to pay twice for our policy. Once for high gasoline prices and 2nd to pay for the cost of fighting terrorism that are supported by the high price of gasoline and diesel. How dumb can we get? Thank congress! We put them there!

whs806 of TX 7:33AM July 23, 2008

I guess you could always tell your family the bright side of no job, no food and no transportation. Jeesh... The privileged talking down to the suffering, nice...

GH of IN 5:11PM July 22, 2008