Before a wave of emotional despondency descends upon rank-and-file mediators from Geoff Sharp's revelation that median mediator income hovers around $67,000, let's get a little perspective.

First, if you are making $67,000 per year, you are the 52,428,447 richest person in the world and are in the top .87% of the wealthiest people worldwide.  See Global Rich List to end your week on a note of gratitude with a donation to the charity of your choice. 

 Chart from PayScale.

OK.  You don't compare yourself to the people living on less than one or two dollars a day, even though that's the first item on the list of your myriad blessings.  Half of the world's population -- nearly three billion people live on less than two dollars a day.

Check to charity or for a microloan written yet?

But you don't compare yourself to half the world's population.  You compare yourself to attorneys -- a profession you chose not to pursue or that you left to be happier.

The median salary for attorneys who have been in practice between one and four years is -- oh my goodness!!  -- just a couple grand less than the median income for mediators!

And remember, an attorney who has practiced between one and four years has been devoting him/herself to the law for between four and seven years -- the first three of which s/he was spending tens of thousands of dollars for a law degree and earning either precisely -- or next to -- nothing.

So.  If you've been mediating for between four and seven years and are making something between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, you are doing every bit as well as the median attorney.

Does your weekend look any brighter now?