A Retiree’s Reflection on Today’s U.S. Stock Market. When the Dow hits 50,000, it should feel like good news—but it doesn’t for everyone. A retiree shares an honest look at why today’s booming stock market feels disconnected from everyday reality. Today I learned that the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed 50,000 points , a historic record. On the surface, this sounds like good news—something to celebrate. But honestly, instead of excitement, I felt confused . As a retiree who has watched the economy for decades, I can’t help asking: How can the stock market be so strong when so many things seem so wrong? The Questions That Won’t Go Away Here’s what keeps running through my mind: The U.S. national debt is now over $37 trillion Annual interest on that debt is approaching $1 trillion Military spending remains enormous Many cities struggle with homelessness, crime, and social disorder The world feels unstable—wars, conflicts, and rising geopolitical tension ...
Technology surprises me again. Recently, my daughter shared something that truly impressed me. She had been growing indoor plants and flowers at home. Everything looked fine at first — green leaves, healthy stems — but after some time, the flowers started looking tired. Some leaves turned yellow. A few edges were drying out. Instead of guessing, she did something simple. She took a picture of the plant. Then she uploaded the photo to ChatGPT and asked, “What’s wrong with my plant?” Within seconds, the response came back. It analyzed the image and suggested: The plant might be receiving too much water Some leaves should be trimmed The placement may need more indirect sunlight Air circulation could be improved Clear. Calm. Practical. She followed the advice: She trimmed the unhealthy leaves. She adjusted the watering schedule. She moved the plant to a better spot. And gradually, the flowers recovered. Now she is very happy — and honestly, so am I. What ...