Over the last year, UNC’s Printing Services department laid off 11 people. The School of Dentistry laid off 15. At the time, there was lots of discussion, angst and protest. That’s understandable if you’re the person affected by a layoff. Many of us have experienced it at one time or another. But now comes this story, which is a good look at how our ever-changing economy works, and how people react differently when they have to reassess their skills and opportunities. The woman featured in the story now has a job with a nice pay hike. Several folks have elected to retire, and one is looking at starting his/her own business. Two are suing for age discrimination. Ultimately, our fate is in our own hands and each of us decides whether we view a layoff as a devastating event, a bump in the road, a challenge, and/or an opportunity for growth and change. Sadly, there will always be those who simply throw up their hands in defeat and affix blame, rather than move ahead.