o Our Community:
This is an unprecedented time in our universe. One, which is causing great challenges for all of us. And no one is exempt from the impact.
While there is a great deal to be concerned about, there are also beautiful things happening as we connect from afar. So, I wanted to let you know what my Ohana is doing as the is challenge continues to impact our community.
First and foremost, we’re staying home.
I can only share my compassion for all of you from the remote safety of my home. I hope you are all doing the same because I cannot speak more adamantly on how important I feel it is to concentrate our health and wellbeing. Our wellness and the safety of our families and each other are paramount.
Second, we’re continuing to connect and serve one another.
My Ohana has rallied to create and deliver daily meals for local churches and seniors. We are partnering with Fulfill NJ and Asbury Park Dinner Table to keep restaurants going and help their staff members find purpose and mental and financial balance during this challenging time.
We also had an angel donor and loyal customer rally to deliver over 5,000 masks to our community.
And Food For Thought By The Sea is currently running a charity fundraising page to keep these community projects going.
You can learn more here: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/meals-and-masks
At the end of this letter you’ll also find resources and information that I believe we can all use as we navigate this trying time.
Most importantly, I wanted to share with you my story.
Less than eight years ago my business and my family were in a similar situation to this one. But it wasn’t a health challenge plaguing us, it was a storm: SuperStorm Sandy.
In a similar way, people rallied to support the Jersey Shore from near and far.
I was a mother of twin 5-month-old girls at the time and thought that would be the most challenging thing I would ever face as a new mother and leader.
I WAS WRONG…
But this situation has its negatives and positives... as everything in life does…. One positive is that the entire world is going through this and if we pay attention. We will become stronger and grow through what we go through because #communityisaverb. If we leave our differences behind, if we leave our fears at the door, if we do as all my spiritual leaders teach me, have compassion and kindness for each other, we will come out the other side of this stronger and more aware than ever.
The challenge is that we borrowed so much money to bring our businesses back after Sandy and we are still paying off our SBA loan.
I am scared but I try to turn that into helping in any way I can.
Unfortunately, I have two seven-year-old girls who are struggling with not knowing enough but knowing too much about the Coronavirus. Children should not have to ever understand or go through this.
Keeping my stress under wraps when the days are filled with deferments, forbearances and juggling how to help my staff and my community, is super challenging.
But I am choosing to rally to support my staff and my loyal friends and family.
I am choosing to take the much-needed time to craft what the future of my business and relationships with my community and myself will look like.
Go silent and deep in hopes that the universe will guide me.
And if not I will end up where I land.
Please take this time to reach out and mend your community, your relationships, and most of all, your entire core.
Life gets shorter every moment.
We become wiser when we listen.
We become more balanced when we choose to be kind to each other and ourselves.
We will continue to have obstacles.
We will continue to make mistakes.
If we didn't we wouldn’t be compassionate human beings.
I am not quite certain what my company or I will become when this all plays out.
It is too soon to tell.
The challenge of being a small business person juggling leadership with personal and professional relationships is part of my ongoing learning process.
Now we all must trudge through the bureaucracy of putting our businesses back together.
I can say this: I have an amazing team and an amazing support group of many women who guide me every day in group chats and virtual happy hours.
I have a husband and family I cherish and friends I long to hug again.
In this instance it doesn’t just take two to tango or a village, it takes a universal awakening of compassion and kindness and a commitment to the betterment of all of us.