Patience

As the local Atlanta news focuses on the $50M Delta could spend on reducing its workforce, there's another hit for our neighbors to the south. In Milledgeville, we are losing another 1200 jobs as a Rheem plant will close by the end of the year.

You have to wonder where safety went. I guess it's no wonder that the Atlanta Journal Constitution posts a "Breaking News" banner on their homepage when someone picks the winning numbers in the Mega Million, because the jackpot reached $212 Million this week. THAT at least is good news.

Given the dire circumstances for so many people, given that the south seems particularly hard hit these days, I have to count myself pretty lucky. I have money in savings, more than I think I ever have. I'm paying down my largest and last debt. My house is still worth more than I purchased it for in 2001. I also have a focus for my future, which helps me stay pretty grounded.

It's just taking too long. It's taking too long. It's taking too long.

I want a shortcut. Maybe that $212 Million. Maybe I know the person who won it. They wouldn't miss $5K, would they? Nope, they wouldn't miss it a bit. It would be nice to be rewarded for my discipline with a little boost to get me the rest of the way.

Hang in there, right? Just as you tell that to the people who've lost something important in this economy, just as you tell that to the people who have work to do to get back to what they had, I guess you have to tell that to me too. I'm not trying to retrieve something I wanted. I'm trying to let go of what's been holding me back. Does that mean I'm trying to retrieve myself?

Sounds cheesy. I need to hang onto some patience. I imagine it's just as difficult for them as it is for me. They want to get back to what they had and I want to move forward. Can't we just get moving? I think we all just need to take a chance on each other. We all just need a little faith in positive things happening if we make the effort. We all just need someone to take a chance on us.

Me too. Just like you.

---Laura