Comments on: Inspiration: Former News Anchor and Writer Suzanne Rico

By: Mark K

Mark K — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:29:29 +0000

I love what you are doing and your blog. You are a true spirit that brings enlightenment to all. I don’t watch the news much because it’s all celebrity crap but I’m glad you got out. Your recent blog entry on skid row is fantastic and graphic. Just started reading your stuff on Friday and I’m very happy. You write very well. Good luck and God speed.

By: Ray Rueda

Ray Rueda — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:27:25 +0000

Hi Suzanna,
I’m happy that you are traveling and experiencing life with your family in a way that many of us only fantasized of. I miss watching you on Channel 2 with Kent Shocknek. You made the show in my opinion. Hopefully when the traveling bug leaves you in the middle of the night, you’ll consider returning to your strength. News writing and reporting. Your family will always be with you. I retired from a long career in law enforcement 6-years ago. I planned on traveling the world and experiencing new adventures. I still want to do all that but I remarried before I retired and am now raising a 4-years-old and 7-year-old. I still play golf, hike, run, travel to Catalina and pretend I’m a pirate. But, the truth is, I really enjoy spending time with my family and knowing that I have the financial resources to take care of all their needs and safety until they become adults and seek their own path.
Take care Suzanne,
Ray Rueda

By: Charles Volcher

Charles Volcher — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:38:30 +0000

Dear Mrs. Rico

Sorry to see you go!!!! I was wondering where were you cause I didn’t see you for quite a while .CBS did an awful thing in firing you. Have you consider Sueing CBS??? hope you are safe and happy have a WONDERFUL Life!!!! Suzanne and take care.

Love from
Charles V.
a fan from Rialto,CA

By: Cerentha Harris

Cerentha Harris — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:24:52 +0000

I was hoping Suzanne would strike a chord Lifework readers. Her story moved me when I discovered her blog and I was so thrilled when she agreed to share it with us. I think sometimes we get trapped in our way of doing things and it takes losing our job to kick us into a new way of looking at our life. I also thought there may be more than a few readers out there who have experienced job loss in much the same way Suzanne had and perhaps this story would give them a bit of hope. I haven’t had that experience but I worked at a newspaper for many years and watched so many of my peers fall under the downsizing axe.

And now I’m off to make an afternoon snack for my 5 year old. I’m also juggling part-time work and raising my kids!
C

By: Ivan

Ivan — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:50:37 +0000

Suzanne -
Thanks so much for replying. I appreciate your insight and candor.
I hope that this time with your family brings you amazing memories and moments that you would never see.

I wish you the best of luck, I really do. I hope that your boys and the family become stronger through these experiences and that all the dots connect at the end.

By: Ann Zevely

Ann Zevely — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:52:57 +0000

Few out of the box thinkers escape criticism. Sorry for the miss type.

By: Ann Zevely

Ann Zevely — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:50:18 +0000

Lots of criticism raining down on a wonderful once in a lifetime adventure. Who cares how they are affording it. If you want to do this with your family scale it down and make it fit your lifestyle and budget.
As for the boys, anyone can see that Suzanne and her husband love their children and would never miss an opportunity to educate them. In fact let’s talk culture immersion, geography and history for starters.

Few out of the box thinkers and escape criticism.
Love reading about your adventures Suzanne, be
safe.

Ann

By: Cerentha Harris

Cerentha Harris — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:39:29 +0000

Ivan,
I’m homeschooling. I’m writing. I’m trying to find my way into my next phase of life like many others. I don’t hold myself up as some example of a hero, just a person who decided to try to deal with a crisis in a positive way instead of letting it drag me into depression and self doubt. I wish I had all the answers. As for this being a selfish journey–I will have to think about that. It certainly is time that I am taking for myself, something I have never been very good at. Selfish has such bad connotations, but maybe you are right. But my children are happy. We are discovering really cool things about ourselves and the world. And as for the future, I’m trying to take it day by day. Thanks for giving me food for thought.
Best,
Suzanne

By: Cerentha Harris

Cerentha Harris — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:05:57 +0000

Hi Ivan
I’ve sent Suzanne your comment. She can only reply sporadically via her iPhone right now – so we’ll have to wait a bit for her response. I will post it as soon as it comes through.
C

By: Cerentha Harris

Cerentha Harris — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:59:53 +0000

Hi, it’s Suzanne. It makes me sad that you feel sad, and trapped in a life that is not fulfilling. I know the feeling. As for being able to take this journey without having an income, what I can tell you is that I worked for many years, saved as much as I could, and spent as wisely as possible so that if the day came where I needed room to figure things out, I could take it. I know I am lucky to have this gift. I was in a well paid job for many years, I have the total support of friends and family, and my husband and I try to make smart decisions about where we spend (obviously transportation, food and board are necessities) and where we don’t. What I feel strongly about is that this life change I am experiencing is not about traveling or running away–it’s about finding a new side of myself and searching for a way of life that makes more sense to me (emotionally, creatively, financially) now that I am in my mid-40′s with two little kids to take into consideration. I did not want to spend another ten or twenty years working in what had become, for me, an unfulfilling career just because it provided a paycheck. So, I decided to, as you put it, “go for it” and see what else is out there. I am not brave–remember I got fired–I didn’t quit because I was chicken. But CBS gave me the kick off the cliff that I needed It remains to be seen how it will all work out, and you can read about the process of discovery on my blog, but I can tell you I am not sorry I took the chance to change. I hope you are able to change whatever it is in your life that is dragging you down. Remember, this does not have to be done with travel–there are many paths to a better place and we all walk them differently. Sorry for any typos here, but I can only send email with my I-Phone right now and it is late where I am!
Best,
Suzanne

By: Ivan

Ivan — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:57:16 +0000

As mentioned before, I think it’s really inspiring to be able to move past previously established personal and professional confines to establish a new life.

The profile leads me to ask more questions, however, like “How and when are the kids going to school,” “How long do you plan to roam like this” and “What’s next – for the kids and husband?”

This economy has really made things difficult for most everyone but the top x%, but I just have a hard time seeing this journey as anything other than a selfish pursuit, to be honest. Her husband lost her job three years ago – what would’ve happened if he would’ve then and there decided *he* wanted to travel the world like a nomad?

And even more disconcerting – Suzanne mentioned that she doesn’t feel she possesses the skills to move into a new job other than anchoring and reporting. How does this journey change that?

If in three years, her husband couldn’t find a new career, what are the chances she’ll find a way to make herself more marketable just because she decided to travel across the globe?

I like the story, I like the idea – it’s great if you’re Jack Kerouac. Not so great if you’re a family of four trying to make ends meet.

By: Cerentha Harris

Cerentha Harris — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:28:40 +0000

This is a great question and I will let Suzanne respond but thank you for the comment.

By: thecolor

thecolor — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:17:48 +0000

While it seems like a nice story and I applaud Suzanne’s ability to be independent (the story feels like a “how can I drop everything and still survive story”) — she mentioned “I don’t have a paycheck” twice, but in no way can I imagine she is able to do what she does without a healthy income. Clearly plane trips and rental cars and hotels (or places to stay, food for her and her family, fuel, etc. etc. are not free). So, with that in mind, can you better enlighten us on how she managed to do all these things?

I feel even more discouraged than encouraged knowing that there is no possible way someone can survive with as rich a life as you describe less any sort of means to pay for it.

I would love to change my life (just drop everything I have and go for it)… and I feel I have the courage for everything but lacking the ability to eat, have a warm roof over my head, and travel somewhere to enrich myself, other than the street corner to ask someone for more money to make it through the next day.

– saddened