I’ve been talking with people in various stages of panic over the past few weeks (ummm, months..?), from those beginning to hear the rumblings of imminent layoffs, to those just having felt the axe drop, to those having found themselves on the market for longer than they expected or are comfortable with.

The bad news is that I’m going to continue getting those panicky calls, there is no swift end to the concerns that folks are having about their current or impending unemployment.

The good news is that there has been an unbelievable outpouring of positive and productive support, in many unexpected places. As a collective group I’ve been seeing the members of so many communities turning stereotypes upside down and I am loving it! Not just out to make a buck (but who are we kidding, we are all still hoping to get paid here) our minds have turned to helping each other and the candidates we deal with daily.

Maybe it’s in the spirit of this holiday filled time of year, but I tend to think not. It is so much bigger than that. The fact that the economy is taking a profound hit and individual’s lives are being hugely impacted seems to have brought us all together.

I’m reminded of the scene in The Grinch Stole Christmas where he realizes that the Whos have begun singing on Christmas morning, presents or not – and his heart swells. Because when it comes down to it, what is happening to us is happening collectively is being felt across the board, and what has me singing is the good that is showing through. We’ve all at times been misunderstood and perhaps a positive attitude and a helping hand have their place after all…