You will survive

My heart goes out to the 35 newsies laid off at the Edmonton Journal and Edmonton Sun on Tuesday. Actually, I feel for EVERYONE who has lost their job in these challenging economic times.

Losing one's work is devastating. It is after all, not just where you 'go' everyday, IT PAYS YOUR BILLS. To have that taken from you, through no fault if your own, is brutal.

Where does one find a new job? Not only that, how does one find a new job when you're so bummed out?

Back in 1997, I lost my job at K-97 Radio. At the time, I was earning $104,000 a year. Mercifully, I had saved, paid off my mortgage and had a healthy reserve fund, so I wasn't destitute. For the life of me, I couldn't find another 'morning show' job in radio. It took months before I finally landed a 'weekend position' at CFCW, where the pay was $28,000 a year. You don't think that was a little hard to swallow? I knew however that if I worked my tail off, I'd eventually get back to a morning show and the salary I once had.

I obviously survived, and truth be told, I had a great deal of fun along the way! I was of course eventually partnered up with Danny on the morning show. Not only was that outrageously entertaining, I made a life long friend.

Right now, details of 'my experience' will be of little comfort to someone who is worried, scared, deflated and angry about losing their job. To that person, I hope you know that I, and many others understand your pain and empathize with you.

You 'will' survive. It's just going to take......time.