February 16, 2021 Message to Members

As we approach the one-year anniversary of this remarkable time in our lives, I was encouraged to promote the positives of COVID-19. You’re probably thinking, what is this guy smoking? Or better yet, how about the group of people who encouraged me to do so?

Nope, nada. Like you, we’re just sick of this entire thing.

Granted, in terms of COVID itself, there’s not a lot of positive there. But there are certainly outcomes that have been positive as a result of COVID-19. And when you stop to really think about it, it’s actually quite a long list.

And because there will be those that refuse to look at things through a positive lens and get their poison pens in action, let’s throw in the caveat that this is by no means meant to diminish or downplay the devastating effects this pandemic has caused. OK? So we don’t need to mention this again. We’re looking at things positively.

Coming off a Family Day holiday weekend, how about the obvious, and that is, the quality time families are now spending in homes across our province? Not only is this because of the restrictions related to social interaction, but the hectic schedules that one is accustomed to of practices, games, performances, meets, recitals, aaaaand repeat, is pretty much non-existent.

This has resulted in many of us left to ponder what is really important.

How about gratefulness? Grateful for one’s own health. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had a cold in over a year. I can’t remember a time in my life when I hadn’t had a cold for a full year. I don’t think it’s ever happened before quite frankly.

I’m confident of this because my birthday is in early December, and I’m almost always stricken with a cold then. And I’m usually good for at least one summer cold too (and as an aside, I’m mildly amused when people say “there’s nothing worse than a summer cold.” When did that become a saying, by the way?)

Well I can tell you, yes, yes there is something worse than a summer cold! How about flying in the winter when your head is congested with all the trappings of a sinus infection and you feel like your head is going to explode because of the pressure changes in the plane’s cabin. That! That is far worse than a summer cold, let me assure you.

Ok, back to the positives of COVID… How about gratefulness for not just you and your family’s health, how about gratefulness for our health care workers? Remember way back when – seems like a decade ago now – that we were out on our doorsteps banging our pots and pans in unison in support for our healthcare and frontline care workers? Those days are long gone, but certainly the appreciation for what these wonderful humans are doing has not diminished.

This appreciation has also transcended into those that are not accustomed to such acclaim. Remember the love that truck drivers were being shown during the lockdown? They needed a washroom or a meal and people and places would provide these heroes with a meal or a rest stop in appreciation for the drivers providing the necessities of life (…you do know that everything in your life, including your food, clothing and building materials [ie: your home] arrives to you from its point of origin to your doorstep at some point on a truck, don’t you?)

There has also been a stronger appreciation for local businesses. Certainly the restaurant and retail sectors have benefited the most from this awareness, but it must also be stressed that they do not own the ‘local space.’ Professional services, manufacturers (each of which covers a wide spectrum), entertainers, artists, local tourist spots (which again covers a wide spectrum) are some that have maybe not felt the love that has the restaurant and retail sectors. But they should. Keep that in mind when ‘shopping local.’

I’ve hit my maximum word count and have been too distracted and wordy and not yet gotten to the string of other great things that have resulted from this pandemic. So let’s just say we’ll carry this theme on next week.

Until then, stay safe, be strong, be focused, be smart, be vigilant, but most of all, be kind.