Some weeks the news feels like a lot, so let’s slow down and look at what actually matters around our kitchen tables.

First, work. The latest jobs report came in soft. Employers added only 29,000 jobs in September, far fewer than the roughly 90,000 experts expected, and the unemployment rate crept up to 4.2%. Economists have a phrase for it: “low-hire, low-fire.” Most of us aren’t being let go, but fewer doors are opening. If you’ve been job hunting, you may have noticed. The typical unemployed person has now been looking for more than six months, and paychecks are growing at their slowest pace in over five years. If that’s your family, you’re far from alone, and it’s worth leaning on neighbors, local job centers, and community colleges, which often know about openings before they’re posted.

Second, health and the price tag. About one in eight Americans now takes a GLP-1 medication, the family of drugs best known for weight loss, and researchers are studying whether they might help with other things too. But the cost keeps many people out, and some are turning to cheaper versions that aren’t regulated. We understand the temptation when money is tight. Still, it’s worth talking with a doctor or pharmacist before trying anything that hasn’t been properly checked, because safety shouldn’t be the thing we trade away.

Third, a moment of gratitude. Eva Marie Saint, the actress who lit up On the Waterfront and North by Northwest, has died at 102. Think of that: a life that stretched across nearly the whole story of modern American movies, and a career people still watch and love. Maybe this weekend is a good time to pull up one of her films and invite a grandchild or a neighbor to watch along.

Hard news and good news live side by side, as they always have. The job market will turn, as it always does, and costs will be argued over in the open. In the meantime, we’ve got each other. Check in on someone who’s between jobs. Share what you’ve learned about navigating healthcare costs. Watch an old movie together. Little things like these are how our country holds steady, and they still work.