After the emotional, historic presidential election when people chose change and looked beyond the color of skin, I had a sudden awareness of what it took to get there. I know from my clients that it often takes a crisis to wake-up and change. Many people had to be touched in their pockets and have their security threatened for them to wake up and realize that change was very necessary for their well-being as well as the nations.

An example of a positive result of a crisis is when the very high gas prices motivated people to take public transportation, ride their bikes, carpool more, and purchase more energy efficient autos. It also re-awakened interest in alternative fuel sources.

I experienced solar paneling energy when I visited Israel 40 years ago. I wondered why it was not popular in America. I especially thought about the very sunny states. One perspective is that it is a crime to waste the unlimited, sun energy that is so much better for the environment and our pockets. Imagine if we had followed that path. I believe that the whole world would be different and we certainly would not be in the mess we are in now. I am referring to our global warming, high level of disease, and toxic air. I believe that there is a connection. When we poison our environment, we poison ourselves.

I talked to people over 20 years ago who were involved with the development of alternative fuels. They were very excited about the technology but frustrated that the people benefiting from our use of oil would not allow them to go public. What a crime!

The mortgage disaster was inevitable. Prices of homes were ridiculously inflated and many people were extremely stressed working long hours to pay their mortgage. Relationships and children suffered because little time or energy was left over for family time or themselves.

People were buying homes who could not afford them in the first place. I recently talked to someone who has been struggling with high monthly house payments and is trying to get a quick sale. She told me that her brother-in-law realtor, who convinced her to purchase the home years ago, had many clients in the same situation. I then realized that the mortgage company and her relative earned high commissions selling homes to people who could not afford them.

History often repeats itself. Hopefully we are all learning from our major blunders. I believe that we the people have power, especially when we join together and assert it. I think it took all these crises for many people to vote for the first time in their lives, to make better choices, and to improve our personal, national and world situation.

I am optimistic that our finances as well as our quality of life will improve. Let's take the time to be grateful for what we do have and give the most valuable free gift of unconditional love and caring to others and ourselves. Let's continue to assert our rights to speak up, and together we can make a difference. We can move forward to better, more secure and healthier times for all.