Well, here I am, almost 60 year's old, and I was just informed that I will have to EARN respect. I was hoping that by the mere fact that I am now considered a Senior Citizen (ouch), that I would have accumulated some "creds" in the respect bank! Like back in them 'ol days when kids were taught to "respect your elders"! I don't remember ever turning to somebody thirty years older than me and sassing them with, "but you need to EARN my respect"! They were old and scared the heck out of me and I cowered in their presence. Apparently, my being old now doesn't make me any wiser. Being "wiser" means you are just cynical! I buried both my parents and a sibling who we watched die of breast cancer. I buried my in-laws. I've made fortunes and lost fortunes. I am a child of the 1950's and even though I am pretty dumb in the world of technology, I know how to spell without having to use "spellcheck" and I can multiply without using a calculator! I've seen interest rates climb and plummet and I've watched the housing market now for over 40 years! I am not so much judgemental, but it just seems like things in the real estate marketplace and other financial arenas have taken a turn for the worse lately. No generation is entirely at fault, but hard work, and struggle and sacrifice isn't a number one priority in the youth of today. Do I have clients from Gen X or Y? I have mostly Sellers in this group. They have bought houses in the last 2 to 5 years and they paid too much for them because they wanted in NOW or they bought them with no money down or they pulled out more equity on the houses than they were worth so they could pay other bills or they over-improved! Does everyone really need granite counters in the kitchen and baths? These Sellers are all upside down in their mortgages and have no way of coming out from under the ARMs that are coming due. They cannot borrow any more money and now are faced with just having to walk away from their loans and credit cards. What else can they do. It was just so easy to get into debt and it's just as easy to get out...default. The moral compass isn't registering very high either! No one generation is to blame, but we must all get together now and seek to find a solution. Please show me SOME respect just by the nature that I am old...I'll try to live up to your expectations.
Be kind. Peace.
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