Don't Worry, Be Happy, That's All!

Current Status... The DJIA slid to 6800 today. Good-bye retirement nest egg(s). So long, home equity. Hello, you-better-love your-job because you're-going-to-be-doing-it a) till you drop or b) till they drop you. So, this is a great opportunity to talk about loving one's job. Better be doing what we love, 'cause we're not goin' anywhere. Just like that, the labor market went from bullish to brutal. Crowds at job fairs. Brotha, can ya' spare a dime-a-dozen for resumes? How to start loving your gig if you don't already? Be grateful you have one. Be grateful if you have benefits. Be engaged. How can you help your business do well enough to keep you? Smile at your co-workers: positive energy put out by you will make its way back to you, and you'll all need it. Focus on your work: single-task. Get involved. Get it done. That will keep you from dwelling on your 401(k) or other retirement plan.

Lately I'm thinking... How lucky I am to have found the job I have. How lucky I am to be valued and, I think, needed there. How great that Stuart and I have travel plans: Tulsa end of April, Vermont in July, Hawaii or Dominican Republic in January '10. Cheapie-vacation plans all, they help to keep the heebie-jeebies away.

This is really interesting... Loving my job. Sometimes I do: when I'm engaged in writing or editing something. Less so when I'm only proofreading. Then I face identiy issues: What, after all those high scores and degrees, only a proofreader?! That's profoundly humiliating. So, I make my job as good as I can, I engage with it and with the people there, who are really a great group. And I think, what else can I do to ensure myself? Do I want to freelance online? Not really. Lately I've been thinking of writing a serialized novel online. I can't see how that could ensure financial security, but it could make me happier I guess.

Currently watching... All kinds of detective shows on DVD. It's soothing to watch things be "sorted" (as they say on the British teley). Everything explained, sorted, put back in place. Emotions confronted -- for the most part -- at least the more important ones. Grieving process at least begun. Help on the way. Community back to "normal." All very soothing, yes.

OH! And LISTENING to PANDORA radio ONLINE. This gets a big, bold recommendation! Go to Pandora.com and create your own radio station, free. Instant record library! The more you tweak it, the better it gets! I have classic jazz, Celtic, electronic, minimalist, Chopin and more on my station. Love it!

The Soapbox... Choose hope. Look for the opportunity in challenge. Be grateful for what you have. I'm talking to myself here, but help me out. Your positive energy keeps me going, as I hope mine lifts you as well.

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