Thankful 30 - Day 27, vibrant economy

Today was Black Friday. I stayed out of the stores. Many of my friends did not. Whether it was slick deals or Christmas gifts, many were out and about the past few days to spend some cash (or check or credit cards) and "save".

Dave Ramsey shared a unique thought today:

Ask yourself why you’re buying those gifts this #BlackFriday #DaveDaily
Posted by Dave Ramsey on Friday, November 27, 2015

We buy many things we do not really "need". However, I am not really complaining. It is great to have the opportunities to embrace life, develop business interests and pursue passions. Today, I am thankful for a vibrant economy.

Stop. I know what you are thinking.

"America is in debt." and "People are out of work."

This is not all true. Unemployment has decreased to 5% nationally, and people have more wealth than ever. This is a whole other discussion, but, we are fortunate to have so many goods and services provided around the world. We do have a vibrant economy, hence, all the choices.

I hope you will take the time to consider all the choices you have. Are you looking to create more choices? How will you do that? Ponder these questions and figure out how you can take some time out of the day every day to improve and reach that next stage to enhance our economy. Happy Shopping! I think Cyber Monday will be ever in my favor. :)

Caroline's Moments in Milan

Harvest is upon me in Nebraskan and I have yet to share some of the great moments from my short day in Milan. When we arrived that day, it was a warm one! Mid-90 temperatures had us melting under the sun as we approached Duomo, one of the most well known churches in the world. Like many other old structures in Europe, it was under renovations, as seen on the left side of the building. It is nice they are attempting to maintain the history of the cities, but it can certainly take away from the whole ambiance.

Duomo Church

As you may know, Milan is known for fashion and high value brands. Within Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, you no longer find the niche, small stores it housed when it first began. Now, you must be a high bidder like Prada, Valentino, and others to maintain your spot in this high traffic strip.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II - oldest shopping center in the world!

When in Milan, you shop. Or try not to melt in the high 90 temperatures.