Wow! Were our readers ever excited to get their hands on our first post-COVID-shutdown issue last month.
Our distributors said people were grabbing magazines out of their hands and carting bundles away in their arms to give to friends and neighbours.
You missed us! And we missed you!
As weeks of social distancing turn into months, I am learning how important touch is and being able to see the faces of the people I love.
As we put together this August edition, featuring retirement housing, I was particularly aware of the challenges these places have faced over the past months in efforts to keep their communities safe.
While every one of us felt the loss of human contact to one degree or another, those with family members in a retirement residence were particularly affected.
I salute every person who has sacrificed being with someone they love in order to stop the spread of the virus. My deepest condolences go out to those who lost a dear one during this time, unable to be at the side of a parent or friend to comfort them or say that last goodbye.
I want to express my appreciation to the people who work at these residences, dealing with the understandable frustration and fears of residents and family members. Being able to navigate through such extreme circumstances takes tenacity and strength.
As you see on the back cover of this issue, residence staff are not only showing up to do their jobs but doing everything in their power to encourage those around them and make the best of a difficult situation.
I have met the managers and staff at many of the residences profiled in this issue and witnessed their dedication to uplift those within their charge. During this difficult time, we have seen those efforts magnify.
I’m heartened by the efforts of our governments and the commitment of our citizens to hold ground against this ruthless invader. We can do difficult things when we need to. We truly can.
Dr. Bonnie Henry has done an impressive job of helping BC navigate through COVID-19 and finding the right balance between caution and hope. Her words both soothe and inspire: “Be kind, be calm, be safe.”
Be Safe: Wash your hands and surfaces, practice social distancing and/or wear a mask – these are simple but effective ways to protect yourself and others.
Be Calm: They say the calmest, safest place is in the eye of a storm. Find ways to stay emotionally centred – a walk in nature, enjoying your pets, spending 15 minutes in meditation, or distracting yourself by cleaning out a drawer… these are small but effective ways we can live more in the moment and obsess less about things outside of our control.
Be Kind: To others and, most importantly, to yourself. Take time to appreciate your resilience. Applaud your ability to handle one of the most unsettling and unprecedented events in the history of the world. Give yourself a break when you have a bad moment, or two, or three, and remember that you’re just human.
Most importantly, remember that this too shall pass. Stay strong.
See you in September. Blessings to all.
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