Silver linings – None of us would have chosen to live through a global pandemic at this time but there are some positive aspects to it. I wrote weeks ago that a little bit of struggle is good for us and managed to avoid using the cliche what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Families are not only spending time together some family members may have gotten to know each other for the first time. People are buying groceries and cooking at home. The slowdown of our economy is uncomfortable for some and extremely difficult for others but many have stepped up their levels of giving. Economic hardship has become an equalizing force that makes people realize we are more alike than we are different. Small companies that faced shutdown switched to make hand sanitizer or paper masks, many giving the product away and workers donating their time and labor. How many people, from politicians to celebrities, from corporate officials to health care workers, have you heard say we’re all in this together? Continue reading →