Happy first day of Fall!
I’m sorry you couldn’t make the farewell ceremony last night. Honestly, you didn’t miss much.
Because of COVID, we had to scale back our celebration. A few of us met on the beach to say goodbye to Summer 2020.
We shared stories and made toasts. I think someone brought cheese and crackers. Summer made a short speech before taking off, and everything was over by midnight.
It was all very low-key and a bit awkward.
Some people were happy to see Summer 2020 go. I heard more than a few mutter “good riddance” on the walk home.
I get it. Summer 2020 was a handful. Lots of problems and drama. But I’m not interested in playing the blame game. It’s all history now. Best thing to do is move forward.
Fall 2020 is a whole new ball game.
I’m going to use this change of seasons to change my perspective.
Hit the reset button. Let go of some outdated opinions and open myself up to new points of view.
Care to join me?
Don’t worry, we can start slow.
Take pumpkin spice... maybe it’s not terrible. What if it’s a perfectly decent flavor that actually deserves to be in everything from coffee and donuts to beer and wine?
Can I make peace with pumpkin spice? I can certainly try. I’ll start with the beer and let you know how it goes.
What about Cleveland Browns fans? When they tell me that “THIS year is the year that everything changes,” can I nod along without cracking a smile?
I can try. Because even though it SOUNDS like a joke, I realize that it might not be a joke to them.
So when they get that look of hope in their eyes, I will work extra hard to keep a straight face.
Should this be the season that I watch Dancing With the Stars? It’s a beloved TV show that draws millions of viewers every week. I’ve successfully avoided it for the last 15 years. Is it finally time to give in and make Tuesdays all about sequins and salsa?
Let’s not get carried away. I’m going to hold off on this one for now.
Even a few small changes are better than none. If you don't grow and evolve, you're just stuck in place.
People I know who are dealing with this pandemic the best are the ones who are adapting. If they have a business, they try to think outside the box. They use their time to learn new things and update old skills. They see challenges as opportunities.
The situation that we’re in right now can’t (and won’t) last forever. Just like the shifting of the seasons, change is inevitable. It will come and when it does, you want to be ready for what’s next.
Because even though the pandemic has slowed some of us down, time still marches on. The future is approaching faster than you think.
Need proof?
I saw a werewolf in the hardware store last week.
He was hanging out near the leaf blowers. Flannel shirt, gray fur and a mouthful of sharp teeth. Real scary looking dude.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, retailers can’t wait to kick off a holiday season. They want to make sure you get a solid five-week head start on your Halloween shopping.
I’m old enough to remember when we didn’t even TALK about pumpkins until mid-October. Five weeks seems like an awfully long ramp-up for a holiday that isn’t even big enough to close the banks.
But then again, it’s been a roller coaster six months. I guess we could all use the distraction.
What the heck, bring on the giant skeletons and spider webs. Hand over the zombie garden gnomes and inflatable ghosts.
Maybe I’ll even stock up early on fun-size candy bars.
You know... just to be prepared.
Take care of yourself, take care of others and thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Larry Lombardi
Director of Economic Development
