A high school Track and Field meet goes on and on, seemingly accomplishing nothing in the hours it takes to get through it, yet all the while, the jumping, running, throwing, putting, and dashing is adding up to one team doing better than the others. In the end, it is the total accumulation of points that defines the winner; it is the team that wins more that it loses that comes out on top. In the process, though, personal bests are hit, and, sometimes, records are set. It is, ultimately, all about the numbers for both the individual and the team.
As I stood there at the fence, the warm sun going down, the cool wind coming up, watching the movement of dozens of non-participating athletes in the field inside the track, it occurred to me that all those bodies stretching, jumping, and watching were exactly like the market – everyone was waiting to get in for their chance to win.
The obvious and quite cliché point to take away from my three hours of standing along a fence watching lots and lots of kids wait, compete, and wait some more, is this: Like the market, the winner of the meet is the team who wins more events/trades than loses. In the end, it is the accumulation of points/dollars that creates success.
Today is the end of the week for the market. Tomorrow is the day Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and then Sunday is the day celebrating his resurrection. In this, as well, I see symbolism for the market player – Do not be a Doubting Thomas when it comes to the resurrection of the US economy and the long-term view of the market.
Yea, though the heralds sing of this economic sign and that portent of imminent economic demise, do not be led astray from the path of rightness. Be not tempted by the lure of the stronger dollar, the weakness/not weakness of US manufacturing, the words of the Fed.
Beware of Greeks bearing false promises but fear not, and fear not those who come before thee and preach doom, but heed those who say unto thee that those of the desert will agree to terms, which will then lead to the Great flood of oil.
Seek out the many with jobs, for it is they who will drive the economy toward the land of milk and honey, to the land of corporate profit, and look to the future where even things greater than the chariot will provide for many and take the market to the Promised Land.
Whoa! I guess I am looking forward to the three-day weekend. Then again, maybe I need a three-day weekend, as today’s writing suggests. Perhaps three hours at a high school track meet is just a tad mind bending.
In any case, I say unto you all, have a good weekend.
Trade in the day; invest in your life …
