April 9, 2020
Many believe that the COVID-19 quarantine is providing a good opportunity to many of us who routinely scamper from one meeting to another, speed read emails because for each one read, two more roll into our box, and multi-task while eating dinner alongside family. If we come out of this more aware of the detriments of our fast-paced lives we shall become better family members and friends because we will have become better, less stressed, less harried human beings capable of spending at least a small bit of time each day living in the present moment.
This result will be a gift, to be sure. And if we allow it, this gift could have even greater reach, impacting our society in a way that seems as long overdue as it is desperately needed. Our way of life has evolved into placing the oddest assortment of characters on pedestals as heroes - actors, singers, players of sports and politicians immediately come to mind but they have much company. We often hear of illegal and evil activities by these people we've put on those pedestals. Such news was once shocking and disappointing; today we shrug and aren't even slightly surprised anymore.
Thankfully, this pandemic has torn down the curtain to reveal who in our lives should really be on those pedestals. It's those who add value to our communities and kindness and comfort to our lives. It's those who go to work every day to be of service to others...Grocery clerks, firemen, trash collectors, nurses and CNAs and doctors and dentists, cooks and waitresses and dishwashers, police and EMTs, yard workers, plumbers and electricians and carpenters and the a/c guy, librarians, mom and pop store owners, delivery people of every stripe and far too many more to name.
We, my friend, are surrounded by the real heroes. The heroes live next door to all of us. May we carry this awareness, along with the immense gratitude we feel in our hearts for these people today, long after this pandemic is but a bad memory.
Linda Dobson, UWCC
Finance Director
Perfectly Polished Nail Boutique
Pomegranate & Fig Gift Boutique
Photo Credit: Debi Malinoski