Modern Times: Finding the Energy, Even When You Don't HAVE Any!

Maybe I'm getting old, but it feels like the simple act of being alive takes more and more energy as the days go by. It feels like it either takes more effort to get the same results... OR, if you put in the same amount of effort, the results are less.

I don't really think it's "just in my imagination," either.

The other day, a financial blogger I sometimes read referred to something called "shrinkflation." I saw shrinkflation in action today at the supermarket. I was looking to buy a bottle of cooking oil, so I picked up a bottle of the vegetable oil we usually buy, which was the $4.99 we usually pay... and noticed something didn't seem quite right. Something was different.

The I realized that the bottle looked the same on the shelf, but it was "skinnier." From the angle you see it on the shelf, it looks the same, but the front-to-back had been reduced... and, sure enough, what used to be a 48-ounce bottle is now a 40-ounce bottle! Same price, you just get 8 ounces less oil.

At times it feels like that could be applied to all of life.

Except bills! Bills are "the same convenient size" but cost more than ever before. Somehow, the equation becomes less and less workable.

The same financial writer often talks about cryptocurrency being "the great equalizer;" the tool by which those of us who tend to struggle financially can dig our way out of the holes we have been pushed into. But can we, really?

Perhaps my perspective is skewed, but I've recently had to power down and cash out the majority of my Steem, simply so we can have a place to live, for another year.

What's my point? It's hard to get ahead, when you're constantly struggling to just get to the starting line! Of course, in spite of the current setback, I plan to knuckle down and rebuild my balance here... it'll just take a while.

Which brings me back to the title of this post: How do we find the energy to show up when we have none? Because the only way ahead is to dedicate yourself to showing up every day, no matter what. I tell that to a lot of people on a regular basis... but I also have to practice what I preach, and sometimes that's hard...

But somehow, we look for our inner reserves and move forward!

Thanks for reading, and have a great rest of your week!

How about YOU? Do you always manage to find enough energy to get your work done? Or is it a struggle, quite often? Ever feel like you're dealing with your own personal "shrinkflation?" Do leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — NOT A CROSSPOST!!!)
Created at 20220321 23:45 PST
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