The last week has been a roller coaster of emotions for a lot of people in Los Angeles.  On the one hand, there were somber recognitions of the 1-year mark for things like many public schools, offices and favorite venues still being closed (not to mention the grief of people who have lost loved ones).  On the other hand, there is the excitement of a wave of re-openings today, with some kids returning to campus for the first time in a year, and many businesses welcoming customers and patrons back in ways that they haven't for nearly a year!  In that context, I was pleased to also read that California's labor force continued to expand in December, and look forward to the trend continuing as our communities continue to recover and re-open, so that everyone's proverbial boats can rise a bit with this rising tide.  I am always grateful for the opportunity to help clients navigate the current landscape in search of opportunity - and just as today's morning showers yielded to a beautiful rainbow and sunny skies (thank you to my daughters for encouraging me to take a break to look out the window), I see many reasons for all of us to be optimistic about our personal and professional lives in the coming months and beyond!