Be thankful for what you have - DJ's Blog

DJ's Blog

Be thankful for what you have

Posted on December 5, 2008 at 02:23 PM.

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The other day, I learned that six co-workers of mine were being laid off due to budgetary reasons. Today, I discovered that one of Colorado's biggest newspapers is on the verge of closing. I know many people that work there and, barring an unlikely purchase from a new owner, they are less than 2 months away from losing their jobs.

I'm really, really thankful that I still have a place to work. The economy is tough and people are losing their living because of it. Being a journalist, I know how difficult it is to break into the industry; to have your passion snatched out from underneath you has to be terrifying. I honestly don't know what I'd do if I were forced to look for another job. Writing has been my career for more than a decade.

Why post this on a videogame website? Well, I think we can all sympathize with the people I mentioned above. I'm also pretty sure most of us have had to scale back on their videogame purchases. I know I have. I haven't paid full-price for a game yet this year. Everything I've bought has either be on sale, used or I've gotten at a really steep discount due to trade-ins. I just can't justify spending $60-plus on a new game when my income is already stretched thin.

I'd really like a new NBA game for my 360, but I can't afford it. So, I've gone back to playing NBA 2k7. It's still a really good game, despite the rosters being out-of-date. My Xbox Live Gold membership recently expired. I'm not sure I'm going to renew it, as if I did, I'd also have to buy a wireless router and a longer Ethernet cable to justify the purchase of XBL, and to not hog my home's Internet access by unplugging my DSL every time I want to get online.

So, while I may not have all the latest games out there, I am content with the games I do have. And, I'm content, maybe more so than ever, that I am employed. Those of us that are employed should all be thankful for that.

Comments

# 1 nyisles16 @ Dec 5

As being one who's currently "seeking gainful employment", I am still thankful for a lot of things at this moment..

# 2 DubTrey1 @ Dec 5

Great post man. I too am very, very thankful for each and everything in my life. All of the big things, little things important things, the things we all take for granted & everything in between.