Michael Lippman

More people cooking from scratch is one example the New York Times gives this morning of a positive health effect of "bad times".  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/health/07well.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin.  Less eating out means less fatty eating.  Also -- and this is fascinating -- a recession leads to there being less of a premium on time ... and so ... more time ... to breathe. 

Ah.  I kind of feel it myself.  A little bit of space. 

(Of course, these are benefits to people who have not lost their entire household income, their home, etc, and the article presents the negative health effects of recession as well.) 

But this is related to the point I was trying to make yesterday.  "Depression" can be an opportunity to regroup psychologically, to develop a more authentic relationship with one's self, to grow spiritually.  A chance to breathe.