And it continues…

Another month passed and no end in site to when life may go back to normal or what we used to define as normal.  I am starting to question whether we will ever go back to the way things used to be even after the pandemic is behind us and vaccines and treatments are readily available.  
Many large corporations are already finding that working from home is effective and there are cost savings to be hand with reduced real estate and other expenses that come with owning or leasing large offices.  We will likely see a swap of the work environment into more of a digital, work from anywhere type of environment.  While that may be difficult for some that need the discipline of an office, it will open up doors and opportunities that were not available for many.  Career opportunities will not be limited to where one resides, it will be easier to make use of second or vacation homes without taking significant time off, it will be possible to take lunch breaks with family, and so many more benefits.  What about schools and education?  Is distance learning effective for certain grade levels or for higher education degrees?  Will we see the landscape of colleges and universities change permanently as a result of this pandemic?
We went into this early this year thinking this was temporary and life would go back to the way it used to be but the more time passes, the more realization sets in that maybe this will pave the way to a “new normal” and no one knows for certain what that may look like.  The only thing constant is change and we are at a crossroad where life as we know it is about change.  Are you ready for it?  If you are not ready for it, there is nothing you can do to change it so the best option ahead of us is to go into it with an open mind and open hearts.  Hanging on to what used to be and wishing for things to go back to that way will only bring sadness, depression, and anger.   As with any change, there may be positive and negative side effects of it and we must learn to concentrate on the positives to keep an upbeat attitude. 
I know this pandemic has closed many businesses, affected many livelihoods, taken many lives.  My heart goes out to those that were and continue to be impacted by this.  You are in our thoughts and prayers and we hope and pray you come out stronger once this is all behind us.   Thank you for your continued support!