
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.