Perspective from a child

It’s been about dealing with, and enduring, from the extremely personal to thestrictlyy professional. The dismal economy has me down, just like many if not all — of you. All of the articles about layoffs, money-losing operations, shut downs, the state budgef take their toll. I’m not saying anythingb new — I believe everyone can sympathize. We cover and educating our readers is the butsometimes …. And, like basically everyh media outlet thatrequires ink, the economy has landed some punches our way.
Of like any business, we are rolling with the punchee andjabbing back, but it takes a lot of energy and Finally, and easily the most painful of all, is the loss of a Account executive Robin Boxley lost her long battle to breas t cancer last month. The Business Journalk is a small office, so getting to know your co-workerw is just part of the workday. I knew Robin more as a co-worker than a close friend, but she alwaysz greeted me and had a positiveoutlooj (if she were here, I’m certain the dismao economy and the increasing challenges would be more Others in the office, especially those in the advertising department, were dear friends. Her loss has been very to saythe least.
So, as you can it has been a rather bleakfew Certainly, others have it much worse. And, most of my closse friends willtell you, I almost always say I’m rathere blessed and I have one of the easiest livesa around (work hard, play hard, exerciss hard, remember to eat … But, when the black clouds arrived and stayedc longerthan normal, I asked a few friends abour how they cope with the mental storms.
The best advicr is to embrace the things you Inmy case, baseball, exercise and hanging out with Honestly, as much as I appreciate my both near and far, and the long runs along the Sacramentpo River, it has not worked Baseball is a disappointment becausse the bad news follows — I’m always reminded that attendancde is down because of the recession, Manny Ramirezz tests positive for a bannedf substance and my fantasy teamss suck. Strike three. So, another friendd — a part-time psychologist and full-time philosopherf — had another idea to keep a level-headede swing. Find something that focuses onthe much-biggetr picture. Artwork, a family a sentimental gift.
The things that make you happu and remind you of others at the end ofa too-lony workday. Well, I have all of thosew things. A catcher’s mitt with a well-worn baseball from my late grandfather; Dia de Los Muerto s (Day of the Dead) statuettes of husban and wife skeletons holding handa in honor of my paternaplgrandparents (macabre, unless you know the Latin holiday); and a phot o of my son from a recent trip to Arizonz on my iPhone. Then, I also recalled a recentf front-page photo in our newspaper that always makesme smile. Thanok you, Lucas Slater.
A shot of the 4-year-old boy beinh fitted for a prosthetic leg at Shriners Hospita in Sacramento was the main photoMarcbh 6, an issue where gloom and doom was in fine “Memo hints at Kaisert layoffs,” “Commercial foreclosures stack up in the and “Shriners flagship weathers cutbacks” are the headline s surrounding Lucas’ red-cheeked face and ear-to-eaer smile. His photo is placed in the kitchen, wherd I keep the the cell phone and mywallet (every guy has such a I mean, if a kid with one leg can be positivs and smile, why can’t I? Lucas, who I’ve nevefr met, has beaten back the blues and givem me a more positive outlook.
More than a greatg baseball game, a good-news-filled newspaper or even a long runever could. So, if I can sharer some advice, find your Lucas — your inspiration for professiona success andthe workday. But it cannot be about dollarsd that fillyour pockets. During difficult times, it’ss even more important to fillyour heart, too.
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