Choose to Smile!

As we reflect on the year that was 2020, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking this was an awful year. While we had our challenges to be sure (Covid-19, political turmoil, natural disasters, etc.), I am choosing to reflect on the positive. I am not discounting the terrible circumstances nor denying the obvious negativity that surrounded the year, but I am making a conscious effort to focus on the positive. Because even in years like this, there are still glimmers of hope, joy and happiness that happened.

While it was FAR from a perfect system, our government sprang into action by offering billions of dollars to businesses that were suffering from the pandemic. By being able to participate in the #PPP, I take pride in knowing that in my own small way, I helped my country and my neighbors. I know I speak for all bankers when I say I have never worked so hard and so many hours in my life as I did during the PPP process. But it made me feel good knowing that because of my efforts, employees of small businesses would be able to feed their families and keep the electricity on.

In an effort to give back to our communities and those less fortunate than ourselves, we stepped up our Community Reinvestment Activities by donating money (and more importantly our time) to organizations such as #ProjectProsper, #SCORE, #NLP, #JuniorAchievement, #Rotary, #STCOC and many more. If you ever are feeling down, I implore you to reach out to a deserving cause and give of yourself. I promise there is no better way to feel better than to help your neighbor!

My Rotary club held the vast majority of our meetings via Zoom this year (as did most meetings all over happen this year). While we were not able to be together in person with fellow Rotarians, it did allow us to have speakers from all over the county such as @Leigh Steinberg and @Chris Christi. In addition, it reminded us to take advantage of make-up meetings by attending meetings all over the world! What other time would have made us think to visit a club virtually in Korea or Germany?

Working from home presented some challenges to be sure. I can only speak for myself when I say the fact we both were working from home brought my wife and I even closer together! A nice benefit of working in the office with co-workers is you get to bond by sharing stories throughout the day as you pass by their office. Well my co-worker this year has been Tammi and I cannot think of a better office mate!

My daughter got her first job as a nurse this year. While it is scary to have her put herself into harm’s way, I am extremely proud of her tenacity and dedication to her work and the care and empathy she shows her patients. The world is recognizing our first responders, so I am not alone in my pride and gratitude towards her. She and all essential workers deserve all the praise they are receiving.

While people were staying home, they realized they still needed warmth and personal contact. As such, the animal shelters all over the country are at all-time lows as more and more people are adopting our furry friends.

With many businesses facing the thought of a shutdown, many of them created new ways to generate revenue and stay afloat. This was an inspiring reminder that we as Americans are pioneers and will find creative ways to face adversity. I know of a story where a designer of high end clothing saw his sales drop in half practically overnight. He immediately retooled and shifted his mindset and will end the year in the black simply by manufacturing designer masks instead of dresses and suits.

I am not Pollyanna. I know we are facing challenges every day and maybe even more so this year. I am simply making a choice to focus on the positives. I am hopeful that in all this darkness, you too can find some light in your world. I encourage you to share some positive thoughts here or on your own post. The exercise may just make you feel better.