Silver Linings

This Months Silver Lining

Silver Linings and Post-Covid Dreams…we are truly inspired and humbled.

Silver linings ok first thoughts….

  • Family dinners (every night)
  • A new COVID puppy
  • Daytime walks with the dogs and occasionally the kids
  • Time to spend getting to know friends better (yes that is you ladies)
  • Time spent with the kids as their friend playing games, doing homework, talking….(cause they had no other friends to hang with)
  • Learning what I love (and need to change) about my home and actually spending quality time enjoying it
  • Monopoly, Cards, Exploding Kittens and all the other family games played when there used to “never be time”
  • A renewed relationship with jigsaw puzzles.
  • Trying and finding a few new recipes to put in our weekly rotations

What am I looking forward to..

  • Hugging.  Everyone I know and miss 
  • Play dates for the kids.  Where it’s ok if not than one friend is over and no need to keep checking that they are not too close or inside. 
  • Planning or accepting invitations to see friends no matter what the weather, no matter how many families, no matter who they may have seen the week before. 
  • TIME ALONE.  In the house, at a spa, at the office, pretty much anywhere.  

But I think top of the list is casual, easy, days with friends.  

Debbie, Santa Rosa

Picture of chalkboard drawing of blue cloud with white outline and sun peaking out from behind - even 2020 had a silver lining

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    More Silver Linings

    We have all discovered a love for soft comfy clothes. Sweats, snuggies, hoodies have been our current clothing of choice. Learning self care for us has involved home spa days and surrounding ourselves with comfort and blankets. Getting relaxed and enjoying each other’s company more has been our silver lining. 

    Jennifer, Santa Rosa

    2020 forced me to contemplate some of my worst fears, but in the process has made me realize what is most important. I am grateful for the health and safety of my friends and family. This past year has brought us closer and I don’t know where I would be without their love and support. 

    We have adapted and technology has come to our rescue more than ever. We have experienced Zoom graduations, virtual weddings, birthdays, happy hours and sleepovers. Hearing my children laugh with their friends on Facetime helped remind me they will be ok in the middle of a pandemic.

    We will get through this and move on, but we will never forget and that will be the silver lining. It will remind us to cherish the simple things and hold the people we love closer. I look forward to the day when we can all relax a little and not be so fearful. I look forward to real hugs, family vacations, and picking up my children after a long day at school.

    Tabatha, Sonoma

    2020 – The year I learned that the old saying: “You don’t know what you have until it is gone!” is SO TRUE! I was made totally aware of all my blessings and freedoms that I had always taken for granted without even a thought, especially the little ones:

    • Hugging my Mom, sisters and friends
    • Meeting family and friends at a restaurant or bar
    • Traveling whenever I wanted 
    • Smiling at strangers in the grocery store and getting a smile back

    All of these blessings have to do with human connection. Reaching out and connecting with someone whether they are a parent, sibling, friend or stranger. It is what I miss the most and what I hadn’t realized until 2020 how important this connection is to my well being and happiness. 

    Post Covid Dreams

    I can’t wait to:

    • Hug my Mom, 
    • Travel to see my California family, and 
    • Sit at a Bar and drink a beer with a friend!

    Bring on the Vaccines!!

    Missy, Lake Stevens

    As each day passes, we’re getting closer to getting back to some semblance of normalcy. In the meantime, we have another fabulous Silver Linings and Post Covid Dreams from one of our incredible supporters.

    I am what most would consider an extreme extrovert. So, quarantine over the last year has been very challenging for me, to say the least. When the city was on a tighter lock down, a friend loaned me their bicycle. I was not only not a cyclist; but, my mindset was very well fixed on the fact that I would never be a cyclist- not now, not ever. However, my boredom, coupled with the freedom that those two wheels afforded, led me to take a spin. I started with a short ride- I thought to myself- “Wow, I did that and I didn’t die!” So, I then started adding more miles to my rides, selecting new routes, setting goals, and purchasing cycling gear. Now, you are thinking that my silver lining is that I am now riding 100+ miles a week, have a base of cycling know-how, and have been building up endurance in the saddle, right? Or, better yet, that I now consider myself a real cyclist? Kinda of, but not exactly.

    My silver lining is that I was given the opportunity to become something that I did not think I would ever be. I was given the opportunity to challenge myself- my body physically, my fixed mindset, and my mental barriers. I was scared to ride, I crashed a few times, I got a few flat tires, I broke a spoke, I got a little lost, I may have cried a few times- but, I endured. Covid19 quarantine led me to my new love- my love of cycling; and most importantly, my love of self and knowing what I can do when I just decide to take a little spin.

    When life starts to return to pre-covid normal, I do badly want to ride my bike to all of my friends houses and give them big hugs!

    Lisa, Seattle

    With our president declaring all adults eligible for vaccines by April 19, we are getting closer to getting back to some semblance of normalcy. In the meantime, we have another fabulous Silver Linings and Post Covid Dreams from one of our incredible supporters.

    Understanding how your kids learn and what works (and doesn’t work)! Getting home projects done that we would not have had time to do. Understanding the people and things that bring you joy, and limiting (or completely removing) the people and things that drain you. That being “busy” is often times busy work and not meaningful work

    I am looking forward to hugging my friends and extended family. I’m looking forward to being impulsive – taking a trip, going to dinner, having a party, without having to wonder if it is safe to do so. I’m looking forward to my kids being kids again – without having to worry about a pandemic, whether they will be in-person for school or when they can get back to doing “normal” things.

    Jean, Santa Rosa

    Finding a silver lining hasn’t been easy this year. I have noticed though that my kids have learned how to be at home and even hang out with each other. They were so used to being busy, going from one planned activity to another, that good old fashioned playing in your room or out on the sidewalk was a lost art! I suppose I could say the same about myself. I drink more tea, watch more TV, and go on more walks. I’ve had to seriously lower my standard of cleanliness now that every room is an office or a school room. It sometimes feels like I live in a frat house, but it’s okay. This is temporary.

    As far as what I’m looking forward to? Number one is traveling, but honestly sitting in a crowded restaurant sounds almost as satisfying.
    Erika, Seattle

    With the vaccine becoming increasingly available and we, hopefully, look to the end of the pandemic, what have we learned? Is there a silver lining?

    I’ve learned that the human spirit is resilient, and we have a visceral need for community. Among all the tragedy, people hope and care for each other. I’ve learned that small things matter, a smile or a kind word, bringing a loaf of bread to your neighbor, or calling that friend you haven’t spoken to in several years just to say you are thinking of them.

    I’ve learned the beauty of gratitude. I’m grateful for the simple things, my family, our health, a nice day, or a walk in the park. Or the not so simple things, our democracy.

    I am grateful for The Blue Rose Foundation’s work and those educators who support and serve our most vulnerable students. Like the Blue Rose Foundation, during these isolating and trying times, I’ve seen the impact of an investment in education. My daughter-in-law teaches in an underserved community, and now, many times, she is the only person, outside the family, her kids see. She is their lifeline. As she has said many times, when education starts young and you can foster it, not only do you educate, you build self esteem. You only need one teacher to believe in a child. During this pandemic, she has had more students come to her during office hours for help, not only with class work, but for life guidance. If there is anytime to invest in education, it is now!

    As for the future, once COVID subsides…..I’m looking forward to gathering in person, and rather a smile or kind word, a hug!

    Thank you Blue Rose for your commitment to our most vulnerable children!

    Peace,

    Zanne
    California

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