it's in the way that you look at it.

So I am at work talking to a good friend and colleague about the current state of affairs at my beloved Chicago Sun-Times. The news is not good for us. The paper is suffering through many problems, the worst of which is the failing economy and uncertainty of the newspaper industry's future.

We didn't talk about anything groundbreaking, new or surprising. It was more of a, "aren't you worried... and this really sucks" kind of conversation.

"I'm pretty lucky," they said. My eyes grew wide and I answered, "What!?!"

My colleague went on to say how they've worked at a job they've loved for 25 years, and look... they're still here.

"I feel like I've beat the system," they said. "I mean, I can count on one hand the days I came to work and really didn't want to be here."

I nodded because I understood. They were right. Hardly anyone can honestly say that.

And despite my complaints and rough days, both of which have ebbed and flowed with time, it's absolutely true for me, too.

Where else can I meet politicians and celebrities, sample food from the city's best restaurants and talk to anyone about anything. I've laughed, cried and been scared out of my mind, sometimes all in the same day.

The future is horribly, frighteningly uncertain right now. But as I considered what my colleague said, I figured out that I am also really ahead of the game.

And somehow, I was comforted just by that thought.