A few days ago, I received an email from Sylvia Allen at Allen Consulting Inc. Sylvia is an internationally recognized author, fundraising consultant, and sponsorship sales expert. Sylvia is a summer resident of the Aitkin area, and she has been on the WJJY Community Focus program in the past to talk about Sylvia’s Children, a nonprofit organization she founded to run a school and help children in Africa. Please check out her website at Sylviaschildren.org

Back to the email.  Sylvia’s consulting business is located in New Jersey, and her email contained this:

When this is over,

may we never again

take for granted

A handshake with a stranger

Full shelves at the store

Conversations with neighbors

A crowded theatre

Friday night out

The taste of communion

A routine checkup

The school rush each morning

Coffee with a friend

The stadium roaring

Each deep breath

A boring Tuesday

Life itself.

 

When this ends,

may we find

that we have become

more like the people

we wanted to be

we were called to be

we hoped to be

and may we stay

that way — better

for each other

because of the worst.

-Laura Kelly Fanucci

This was sent to the members of the Sunrise Optimist Club in Freehold, New Jersey, and Sylvia shared it in her email. To me, these are some of the most inspiring words I have seen since the pandemic began. I hope they inspire you as well.