EDITOR'S NOTES

In a typical year, when the calendar flips to July I would be flipping through my stash of pie recipes to decide which ones I should enter in the competition at the local fair. (Sadly, it has been cancelled in 2020, like most other events.)

As the world reacted to the coronavirus pandemic, it didn’t take long to find out which jobs are deemed essential and which ones we can live without, at least temporarily. It’s not surprising that our essential workers are the same group of people who don’t shutter their businesses on a holiday.

When people all over the world found themselves facing a deadly virus, stay home measures, supply-chain disruptions and economic crises, something else started to spread – signs of kindness and hope.

I don’t know about you, but I relish in the stillness of the early morning. It is quiet and peaceful. For a moment, our crazy, busy world is calm.

As a mom of three little girls, I have been caught up in Disney’s Frozen phenomenon for years. Of course, when the sequel was released this fall, we went to the theatre to see it, and I wondered what song would be stuck in my head (and probably sung throughout my house) for the following days and weeks.

Someone recently shared an article with me that emphasized the importance of lifelong learning. It was written by Ken Blanchard, chief spiritual officer of The Ken Blanchard Cos. and best-selling author.