I awoke this morning thinking about life and how it has so drastically changed in a matter of a few months. I went for a ride with my husband to enjoy the simple things in life, appreciating the beautiful scenic roads and rustic landmarks in our community. While my husband and I enjoyed a quiet drive and admired the beautiful Farmington Polo Club grounds, I was mesmerized by the beauty of it and could not help myself but snap a quick photo. In the distance, I see a bright rainbow! Mother nature or a sign of hope? Hope is what keeps us going after all, but I can’t help to wonder what tomorrow will bring. What will society be like? Are we going to feel free and confident running a routine errand or simply enjoying a meal out? Most importantly, I wonder if we have yet realized how we took yesterday’s social freedom for granted! COVID-19 has not only crippled the world as we know it, but it has crushed small businesses and shattered many entrepreneurs' dreams. As a local resident and business owner, I can see and feel the devastation in our quaint, charming communities, like Avon, Farmington, Canton, and Simsbury, CT.
Martin Luther King once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope”. No one truly knows how long this pandemic will infiltrate our daily routines forcing us to keep social distancing, but hope is the only thing that can keep us moving forward. I don’t know about you, but I miss the simple things like running right over to the New England Pasta & Company on W. Main St., in Avon CT for fresh ingredients. Now, this family-owned small business, loved by the community, is only operating for very limited hours. Or getting my hair done at JohnPaul’s, another small business suffering the impact of COVID-19, forced to close its location in Farmington CT after 25 years in the business. You may recall the “Stop the deportation of DECO Nails” owners’ fight with ICE I led in 2017 to save these local business owners. Kris and Tony who have worked tirelessly to build their nail business in Simsbury CT for 20 years are not sure if they’ll have the financial means to re-open their doors once the pandemic is over. When you live in a big city, life will most likely go back to some variation of “normal”. But when you live in a small town like Farmington, Canton, Simsbury, or Avon CT, this pandemic is going to continue to devastate these boutique-like amenities long after. Like many small business entrepreneurs, their only HOPE is that the State of CT and the Federal Government make it possible to reopen their doors. Unlike the financial crisis of ‘08, led by corporate greed, this pandemic has devastated our lives through no fault of our own and therefore small business owners must not be forgotten! My client and friend Xian Li (Kris), owner of Deco Nails said to me during our recent call, “I miss my customers’ faces;” “I hope they remember me”.
But as I pondered in one of my recent blogs, is this a setback or an opportunity? If you let COVID-19 paralyze your life, time is going to pass you by. COVID-19 is a scary and unprecedented time in history and a setback for all. But while we have no control over the pandemic, we certainly have control over what we do. Since we are all forced into quarantine, why not seize the opportunity to better yourself or do something you love. Do something you otherwise would not have had the chance to do. Read that book you have always wanted to; repaint and decorate your home (Pinterest); take advantage of Duolingo to learn a new language! Do things that are important to you. Since the pandemic started, I have obtained my Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation and one of the most elite accreditations in real estate: the Sellers’ Residential Specialist (SRS) Designation, because my clients are important to me. It is my goal to offer buyers and sellers the best services available, and by earning these designations, I am learning a myriad of new ways to service them.
As per the quote in the movie Forrest Gump, with Tom Hanks, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.” Let’s learn and prepare for life’s unforeseen circumstances. Don’t lose hope! Are we going to support each other and ourselves from 6-feet apart for a better tomorrow? Is America going to be great again?
