I Am Your Life Policy,

You and I have similar purposes in this world.

It is your job to provide food, clothing, shelter, schooling, medicine, and sundry other things for your loved ones; you do this while I lie in your strong box.

I have faith and trust in you. Out of your earnings will come the cost of my upkeep. At times, I may appear to be worthless to you, but some day (and who knows when) you and I will change places.

When you are laid to rest, I will come alive and do your job. I will provide the food, clothing, shelter, schooling, medicine, and other things you are doing now. But, I don’t stop there, I will also take care of your estate taxes, final expenses, and all the other various expenses incurred when you leave. When your work and toil are done, mine will begin. Through me, your hands will carry on.

Whenever you feel the price you are paying for my upkeep is burdensome, remember that I will do more for you and your family than you ever can do for me.

If you do your part, I will do mine,

Sincerely yours,

Your Policy

-Author Unknown

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya

As the cost of energy continues to climb, many believe the current energy crisis will help push green energy into the leading role of energy production, but is that possible or even responsible? Often when discussing renewable “green” energy people only refer to the actual output, they do not include the manufacturing, transporting, or waste aspects.

As gas prices increased, people started to consider the benefits of electric cars. We’re told that they are more economical, cheaper to run, and that they are better for the environment. However, an independent study done by Anderson Economic found that, contrary to most information provided, it can actually cost more to drive an electric car; with the increasing cost of electricity it’s going to become more and more expensive to charge your electric vehicle.

The batters for EVs are also controversial. Not only are they expensive to replace, typically costing between $5,000 and $9,000, but the impact of mining and producing the batteries brings in to question just how “green” they are. There are several environmental impacts of mining battery components, like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These operations strain the local agriculture and disrupt ecosystems. And while the components of EV batteries are highly recyclable, only about 5% actually end up being recycled, leaving the other 95% as very un-green waste.

Solar panels have also become very popular recently. As with EV batteries, solar panels are a manufactured product which have an environmental impact, including the chemicals used, the emissions involved in transporting the product, and other factors.

At best solar panels last about 40 years, so what happens once they’re spent? They end up in landfills, leaching toxic chemicals, potentially contaminating ground water. This is especially true in third world countries where much of this hazard waste is sent. A study published in Harvard Business Review found that waste produced by solar panels will make electricity from solar panels four times more expensive than the world’s leading energy analysts thought. Now that energy costs are so high people are being told solar will save them money, especially with the government subsidies. However, in the U.S. we pay one-quarter of the cost of solar through taxes. And when you purchase solar panels it takes years to break even.

As mentioned with batteries, very few panels are ever recycled. The cost to recycle is 10 to 30 times more than to send the panels to the landfill.

It's not just solar panels filling up our landfills. More than 720,000 tons worth of wind turbines will end up in U.S. landfills over the next 20 years. While wind farms have become an important way to generate electricity in “off-grid” areas, there are still serious draw backs.

Wind energy only works when there is wind. This leaves a pretty big gap in production when the wind dies down. They also freeze over and can’t operate in severe weather. When the turbines are in operation the blades rotate at high speeds, killing many flying creatures. The U.S. Fish and wildlife Service estimate that there are between 140,000 and 500,000 birds killed by wind turbines every year. This can seriously impact ecosystems.

While the operating cost of turbines is low, the manufacturing, installation, and transportation of wind turbines, as well as creating the infrastructure is a hefty investment. It typically takes 10-20 years to break even. The initial setup also requires large machinery, which operates on fossil fuels. Some windfarms require clearing before installation can take place, this means cutting down trees. This poses an additional issue, when the land is cleared there is nothing holding the soil in place and results in erosion.

Renewable energy technology is more expensive than traditional fossil fuel generation. Wind, water, and sunshine might be renewable, but they are also inconsistent, and when there isn’t enough supply, something needs to fill the gaps.

Photo 1 by Markus Spiske

Photo 2 by Matt Artz

There are myriad ways to spend an hour. The time can be spent working, in a leisurely way, or even sleeping. What we do in that hour gives it value. Because each of us has only 24 hours in a day, what we do with that time determines the worth of each hour. Knowing our time has value can change our perception of how we value other things. In order to understand the true value of something, we need to be able to see the value of our time.

In spite of inflation, one hour of labor today translates into far more goods or services than at any other point in history. When we can factor in the “time price” (how long you have to work in order to purchase something) we begin to understand a good’s true value. Giving things a time price and understanding how long we must work for something also helps us to appreciate the value of our time and efforts. Knowing we have to work a set amount of time to purchase something (working 4-5 hours to pay for a family night out) helps us determine it’s worth to us on a personal level. If you could only use your time, instead of money, to pay for things, would you still be willing to work a set amount of time for a particular item you want? If you would be unwilling to pay for something with your time, it might not have enough value to take up place in your life, or your budget.

Not everything has a monetary value, though. Being present for your child’s school play, piano recital, or soccer game, a friend’s wedding, or your grandparent’s anniversary won’t contribute to your financial gains, but it does give value to your time. By spending your time in this way you will be increasing the value of those relationships, which will then give back to you. Using your time to “show up” can also reveal to others where your priorities are and how you value the people and relationships in your life.

There’s also a need to take time for recreation, develop talents and hobbies, and just rest. Most of us have spent a good hour doing mindless scrolling on a screen, which in the end doesn’t really increase the value of our time. However, we gain more when our time is used doing things that increase our development mentally, emotionally, and physically. The way we choose to spend our personal time can help determine the quality of not just the time spent in the moment, but in all the hours that follow. It is always a good idea to invest in yourself, not just in retirement plans.

We’re constantly spending our time, exchanging it for money, goods, or maintenance, but there is a difference between spending time and giving your time. Another important way to add value to our time is to give it to others without an expectation of receiving anything in return. Using your time to sit with a grandparent, serving your community or church, or listening to a friend in a time of need, all these things and more, help others and increase the worth of your and their time. When we give of our time its value multiples.

So, what is your hour worth?

Photo by Andrik Langfield

During the 2010’s, mortgage rates dropped to a record low of 3.35% in November 2012 and stayed in the 3.45%-4.87% range. The Federal Reserve raised the fed funds rate by 50bps to 4.25%-4.5% during its last monetary policy meeting of 2022, pushing borrowing costs to the highest level since 2007. It was the seventh consecutive rate hike, following four straight three-quarter point increases. (One basis point is one percent of one percent or 1/100 of a percent; 1 basis point = .01%, 50 basis points = .5%)

The Fed has taken very aggressive action to curb inflation raising the federal funds target rate by 425 basis points (4.25%) since March. Between 2004 and 2006, the Fed also raised rates by a total of 425 basis points, but did so over the course of two years versus the nine month span we experienced in 2022.

The Fed now expects interest rates to reach 5.1% this year, 4.1% in 2024, and 3.1% in 2025, a higher level than previously indicated. Meanwhile, GDP growth projections were revised higher for this year (0.5% vs 0.2%) but lowered for 2023 (0.5% vs 1.2%) and 2024 (1.6% vs 1.7%). Inflation forecasts were revised higher for 2022 (5.6% vs 5.4%), 2023 (3.1% vs 2.8%) and 2024 (2.5% vs 2.3%). source: Federal Reserve

Jerome Powell Said, “Over the course of the year, we have taken forceful actions to tighten the stance of monetary policy. We have covered a lot of ground, and the full effects of our rapid tightening so far are yet to be felt. Even so, we have more work to do.”

You can do more than you think. It’s true. Sometimes we face difficulties, things that when they stand looming before us, seem insurmountable, but don’t let that fool you. You can do hard things.

No one can escape trials, whether it be a lost job, moving and starting over, losing a loved one, lost or failed opportunities, or just overall disappointment. Hardship and trials are not limited to any one group of people, we all experiences them at some point, but how you handle those bumps in the road can very well determine your character.

This is not a reason to become a pessimist, on the contrary, use this foreknowledge to be optimistic. Recognize that you can plan, and work, and prepare today so that when hard things happen in the future you are better prepared.

We’ve all heard of “mind over matter,” meaning your mind has influence over your physical body and surrounding environment. This can be called mental strength, determination, or resilience. When you are mentally strong you can focus your energy on the things pressing in on you and overcome. You can learn to keep a positive focus, blocking out doubts and assumed weakness. Some people do this through positive affirmations, others through meditation, or some might just push through with tenacious persistence. However you go about it, try to see every problem as an opportunity to learn and grow.

When you develop mental toughness, personal limitations break down and open the way for incredible things. One way we can develop this mental fortitude is to welcome the challenges of life and see them as learning opportunities where we can practice and strengthen our abilities. Just like a weight lifter needs increasing resistance to get stronger, so too do we need the challenges of life to develop resiliency.

Another way we can develop mental fortitude is to work on our confidence. Learn to believe in yourself and your own capacities. When we doubt ourselves or let fear creep in it’s easy to get overwhelmed, and as soon as this happens we lose our momentum. Sometimes we fear the unknown that changes or hardship can bring. Don’t be afraid of being uncomfortable. Growth starts just outside our comfort zone.

Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself, or the situation you may find yourself in. Humor gives us strength and confidence. It chases away the scary shadows and allows us to take a breath and see through new eyes. Laughter is a stress reliever and can make the uncomfortable more tolerable.

It’s important to take time to rest and reset. Challenges can wear you down, they take a lot of extra energy. Acknowledge what you’ve accomplished so far and allow yourself the time and space to gather yourself for the next big hurdle.

If you find yourself at a point where life is too hard and you begin to feel overwhelmed, try reaching beyond yourself and your circumstances and help someone that is also going through a hard time. When you give to someone, whether it be a physical gift or service, your brain releases a mix of chemicals that actually give you a mental boost and lift your mood. Helping others will actually help you!

We all have seen some hard times the last couple of years, and there’s no telling what will come in the future. The time is right to choose positivity and courage. Overcome the negative thoughts and voices. Remember- you can do hard things!

Photo 1 by Ian Stauffer

Photo 2 by Anway Pawar

Photo 3 by Christian Bowen