During this time of doing our part as a good citizen staying home and practicing physical (social) self-distancing, this is also a time to get closer to those you love or have lost contact with.
Many grandparents are sad due to not being able to be with their grandchildren and many are busy taking care of them. We are watching our two granddaughters Kaylynn, 5, and Shaye, 3, while their parents work in essential services. I used to love playing school when I was a child so recreating this environment at our home has been fun (and tiring, to be honest). I have always said how much I appreciate the teachers out there who spend day after day teaching and caring for our children. What I have tried to teach my grandchildren is to appreciate what they have and how the simple things in life don’t have to cost money.
Before the Coronavirus, it was so easy to go buy crafts at the store but this virus has curbed our spending, helped us to use our creative minds and, use things we have around the house. We have coloured egg cartons, hid puzzle pieces around the yard to have scavenger hunts and then put the puzzles back together, we play tic-tac-toe with Cheerios, Smarties, raisins or nuts and whoever wins the line gets to eat the treats, made pictures on construction paper gluing pinecones and pussy willows. These simple DIY activities have created such joy and fun.
It has been a goal of mine to go through family/friends photos for a while and clear out a wall unit in my basement. I must say that I was not very good at putting my photos in albums so I had tons of envelopes with negatives to go through. It has been a trip down memory lane in my life. As I come across funny photos, I am sending them to friends or family, even if I haven’t seen them in years. This has then turned into phone calls, laughter, great catch-ups and many promises to get together when social distancing is lifted. I am thankful for this time at home as it has reconnected me with many people who are special and through life I lost touch with due to raising my kids, changing careers, health, or the passing away of both my parents. The memories I want to keep, I am taking photos with my phone and storing them on my computer.
I know many people are feeling stuck right now and unmotivated to do anything. It has been reported that people are watching more television and online content than ever before. To be honest, that has been me as well until I started using my time more wisely. This time has brought me joy, laughter and, also tears as I look at photos of those who have passed away. A dear friend of mine just lost her brother last week and it is unimaginable to me how sad it would be not to be with family at such a loss. I sent her a couple of funny photos from our past and she said it helped during her sorrow. You never know whose life you are going to touch by reconnecting.
I hadn’t been to the grocery store for a few weeks and yesterday I went to Fortinos. As I walked up to the door and saw the employee wiping down the grocery cart I said, “Thank you.” As I walked in and saw the tape on the floor and the plexiglass between the employees and the customers a wave of sadness came over me and a few tears fell down my cheek. I think my empathetic little heart was overtaken with the heavy energy I felt.
I have been watching the Prime Minister’s daily reports but somehow when I was in Fortinos, the reality swept over me that this is happening. I was pleased to see how most people were keeping their distance, however, I did have two people butt right in front of me at the egg and milk fridges touching me. I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough for them. What don’t these people get! We all have to be patient. We all need to do our part and do what is best for everyone. I appreciate the people that are stocking the shelves, cleaning, and checking us out and I said thank you to anyone I saw in the store that was doing their part to help me stay healthy and feed my family. It feels like we are in a dream. I came home and got busy in the kitchen making broccoli cheese soup to drop off on the doorstep for a friend who wasn’t feeling well and to my aunt who just got home from Florida and is in quarantine. I am grateful that I can help, if only in a small way.
If we all come together to do what is best for Stoney Creek and the world, we can lower the curve. I believe that our Faith (whatever that is for you) is what is going to get us through these unpredictable times.
- Lori Raudnask is a motivational speaker, a Stoney Creek resident and author of Persistence Pays.
During this time of doing our part as a good citizen staying home and practicing physical (social) self-distancing, this is also a time to get closer to those you love or have lost contact with.
Many grandparents are sad due to not being able to be with their grandchildren and many are busy taking care of them. We are watching our two granddaughters Kaylynn, 5, and Shaye, 3, while their parents work in essential services. I used to love playing school when I was a child so recreating this environment at our home has been fun (and tiring, to be honest). I have always said how much I appreciate the teachers out there who spend day after day teaching and caring for our children. What I have tried to teach my grandchildren is to appreciate what they have and how the simple things in life don’t have to cost money.
Before the Coronavirus, it was so easy to go buy crafts at the store but this virus has curbed our spending, helped us to use our creative minds and, use things we have around the house. We have coloured egg cartons, hid puzzle pieces around the yard to have scavenger hunts and then put the puzzles back together, we play tic-tac-toe with Cheerios, Smarties, raisins or nuts and whoever wins the line gets to eat the treats, made pictures on construction paper gluing pinecones and pussy willows. These simple DIY activities have created such joy and fun.
It has been a goal of mine to go through family/friends photos for a while and clear out a wall unit in my basement. I must say that I was not very good at putting my photos in albums so I had tons of envelopes with negatives to go through. It has been a trip down memory lane in my life. As I come across funny photos, I am sending them to friends or family, even if I haven’t seen them in years. This has then turned into phone calls, laughter, great catch-ups and many promises to get together when social distancing is lifted. I am thankful for this time at home as it has reconnected me with many people who are special and through life I lost touch with due to raising my kids, changing careers, health, or the passing away of both my parents. The memories I want to keep, I am taking photos with my phone and storing them on my computer.
I know many people are feeling stuck right now and unmotivated to do anything. It has been reported that people are watching more television and online content than ever before. To be honest, that has been me as well until I started using my time more wisely. This time has brought me joy, laughter and, also tears as I look at photos of those who have passed away. A dear friend of mine just lost her brother last week and it is unimaginable to me how sad it would be not to be with family at such a loss. I sent her a couple of funny photos from our past and she said it helped during her sorrow. You never know whose life you are going to touch by reconnecting.
I hadn’t been to the grocery store for a few weeks and yesterday I went to Fortinos. As I walked up to the door and saw the employee wiping down the grocery cart I said, “Thank you.” As I walked in and saw the tape on the floor and the plexiglass between the employees and the customers a wave of sadness came over me and a few tears fell down my cheek. I think my empathetic little heart was overtaken with the heavy energy I felt.
I have been watching the Prime Minister’s daily reports but somehow when I was in Fortinos, the reality swept over me that this is happening. I was pleased to see how most people were keeping their distance, however, I did have two people butt right in front of me at the egg and milk fridges touching me. I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough for them. What don’t these people get! We all have to be patient. We all need to do our part and do what is best for everyone. I appreciate the people that are stocking the shelves, cleaning, and checking us out and I said thank you to anyone I saw in the store that was doing their part to help me stay healthy and feed my family. It feels like we are in a dream. I came home and got busy in the kitchen making broccoli cheese soup to drop off on the doorstep for a friend who wasn’t feeling well and to my aunt who just got home from Florida and is in quarantine. I am grateful that I can help, if only in a small way.
If we all come together to do what is best for Stoney Creek and the world, we can lower the curve. I believe that our Faith (whatever that is for you) is what is going to get us through these unpredictable times.
- Lori Raudnask is a motivational speaker, a Stoney Creek resident and author of Persistence Pays.
During this time of doing our part as a good citizen staying home and practicing physical (social) self-distancing, this is also a time to get closer to those you love or have lost contact with.
Many grandparents are sad due to not being able to be with their grandchildren and many are busy taking care of them. We are watching our two granddaughters Kaylynn, 5, and Shaye, 3, while their parents work in essential services. I used to love playing school when I was a child so recreating this environment at our home has been fun (and tiring, to be honest). I have always said how much I appreciate the teachers out there who spend day after day teaching and caring for our children. What I have tried to teach my grandchildren is to appreciate what they have and how the simple things in life don’t have to cost money.
Before the Coronavirus, it was so easy to go buy crafts at the store but this virus has curbed our spending, helped us to use our creative minds and, use things we have around the house. We have coloured egg cartons, hid puzzle pieces around the yard to have scavenger hunts and then put the puzzles back together, we play tic-tac-toe with Cheerios, Smarties, raisins or nuts and whoever wins the line gets to eat the treats, made pictures on construction paper gluing pinecones and pussy willows. These simple DIY activities have created such joy and fun.
It has been a goal of mine to go through family/friends photos for a while and clear out a wall unit in my basement. I must say that I was not very good at putting my photos in albums so I had tons of envelopes with negatives to go through. It has been a trip down memory lane in my life. As I come across funny photos, I am sending them to friends or family, even if I haven’t seen them in years. This has then turned into phone calls, laughter, great catch-ups and many promises to get together when social distancing is lifted. I am thankful for this time at home as it has reconnected me with many people who are special and through life I lost touch with due to raising my kids, changing careers, health, or the passing away of both my parents. The memories I want to keep, I am taking photos with my phone and storing them on my computer.
I know many people are feeling stuck right now and unmotivated to do anything. It has been reported that people are watching more television and online content than ever before. To be honest, that has been me as well until I started using my time more wisely. This time has brought me joy, laughter and, also tears as I look at photos of those who have passed away. A dear friend of mine just lost her brother last week and it is unimaginable to me how sad it would be not to be with family at such a loss. I sent her a couple of funny photos from our past and she said it helped during her sorrow. You never know whose life you are going to touch by reconnecting.
I hadn’t been to the grocery store for a few weeks and yesterday I went to Fortinos. As I walked up to the door and saw the employee wiping down the grocery cart I said, “Thank you.” As I walked in and saw the tape on the floor and the plexiglass between the employees and the customers a wave of sadness came over me and a few tears fell down my cheek. I think my empathetic little heart was overtaken with the heavy energy I felt.
I have been watching the Prime Minister’s daily reports but somehow when I was in Fortinos, the reality swept over me that this is happening. I was pleased to see how most people were keeping their distance, however, I did have two people butt right in front of me at the egg and milk fridges touching me. I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough for them. What don’t these people get! We all have to be patient. We all need to do our part and do what is best for everyone. I appreciate the people that are stocking the shelves, cleaning, and checking us out and I said thank you to anyone I saw in the store that was doing their part to help me stay healthy and feed my family. It feels like we are in a dream. I came home and got busy in the kitchen making broccoli cheese soup to drop off on the doorstep for a friend who wasn’t feeling well and to my aunt who just got home from Florida and is in quarantine. I am grateful that I can help, if only in a small way.
If we all come together to do what is best for Stoney Creek and the world, we can lower the curve. I believe that our Faith (whatever that is for you) is what is going to get us through these unpredictable times.
- Lori Raudnask is a motivational speaker, a Stoney Creek resident and author of Persistence Pays.