DEAR HARRIETTE: I work for a prominent music publication, and for the first half of 2016, my staff had to write about the deaths of David Bowie, Merle Haggard, Prince and Muhammad Ali. We are mentally drained. Writing about the untimely passing of different makers in our society is exhausting, and I pray that we do not have to write another death article any time soon. How do I pick up my staff's spirits to inspire them to stay fresh? -- Pressing On, New York City
DEAR PRESSING ON: In every media organization, there is the responsibility, and often the beat, to write obituaries for prominent members of the community. While it is surely sad when people who have led outstanding lives die -- indeed, it is sad when anyone dies -- this moment represents a time to celebrate all of the great things about that individual's time on the planet.
As your team continues to write about other topics, you may want to encourage your leadership to have someone regularly researching the elders in your industry to prep obituaries for them. Death is a fact of life. When you approach it as a part of life and a way to celebrate others, you may be able to change your and your co-workers' attitudes.
Remind your team of the highlights of these people's experience, of how they made it worthwhile to be alive -- not only did they soar in their own right, they inspired others to soar as well.