Natural Awakenings Twin Cities - August 2020 Issue
Letter from the Publisher
Candi BroefflePublisher
August is traditionally the time Minnesotans focus on enjoying the final days of summer before school begins, shop for our children’s new clothes and school supplies, and attend our family reunions, weddings and other large events. Yet 2020 continues to throw our plans out the door with the uncertainty caused by COVID-19.
As humans, we strive for certainty—we innately want
stability—to know what to expect. At this time in our country, in our world, we
do not have that luxury. The stress that is caused for all of us is great, but
the stress for parents with school-aged children is intensified. They are
responsible for making the best choices for their children, and the worry of
making the wrong decision weighs heavily on their minds. If their school
determines in-person learning is appropriate, they need to determine whether
they should send their child or keep them home. If their own livelihoods are
contingent on their child going back into the classroom, they are left without
much of a choice.
As a small business owner and a business coach who works
with business owners, I understand our need to get back to work. Many
businesses have already closed and more will not survive through the end of the
year. This not only impacts their employees, but it impacts their own families.
Business owners are going into debt to pay their creditors and the employees
who they love and are responsible for, while not being able to pay themselves a
wage. The business that they have spent years building can be gone in a matter
of months.
Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to the problems we
face. However, I am confident that we can do better and circumstances are
providing the opportunity. We are creative, innovative and caring. Instead of
focusing on making sure our opinion is right, we can be flexible, open to
hearing the other side, move beyond duality and come together to help each
other become wiser and more "whole"-istic, both individually and
collectively. We are not perfect—we will stumble and perhaps make mistakes—but with
unity consciousness and heartfelt intent, we will learn. I’m willing to give it
a try. Will you?
Wishing you wellness,
