Launching: In It Together
Flashback to the 1st Anniversary Party for Poplin held at Freeman. Warm fuzzies all around.
While we all might be physically separate, we are very much in it together. Over the past month or so, I’ve had all sorts of delightful interactions with my clients and the Poplin community. Of course, this is certainly not a delightful time to be home. And, if you can, please support local food banks and other organizations working tirelessly to help folks affected in an endless number of ways right now. Really. Anything you can give does matter. (For that matter, supporting your favorite candidates for office matters quite a bit, too. )
The thing is, it’s all very abstract. We’re not interacting with one another IRL, which means we are missing the nuances of in person communication. We aren’t taking in nonverbal cues from one another. We can’t comfort with a hug or an impromptu get together. While we all may be finding the silver lining in this (and yes, there are many), it can also be lonely, frustrating, and unpredictable.
Add to that, we have the daily annoyances of real life. Likely, we feel guilty about caring about our roots growing out or lacking a pedicure. But, trust me, Dear Reader, those things matter because they are reminders to us everyday that life is not the same. It can be depressing to feel like there’s no reason to put yourself together each day. But, My Dear, there absolutely is. You are the reason.
If you get that, but you still don’t know exactly how to execute, that’s where this series comes in. Get ready. It’s awesome.
Over the next few weeks (maybe more?) you’ll be the lucky recipient of blog posts that aim to solve your daily challenges. And, I won’t be the only one solving them. I’ve turned to my very favorite local experts to answer those nagging questions with detailed, helpful guidance made just for you. Here are some examples:
A Sample: In It Together Blog Post Topics
Working from home in the time of pandemic from Executive Coach, Kore Kobourlis
How to do a home pedicure like a pro from Vixen Day Spa and Boutique Owner, Courean Napolitano
How to choose the right clean color for you hair and how to color it yourself from my hairstylist, Lindsay Brabank
How to avoid stress eating while you are at home and maintain body positivity from Nutrition Coach Natalie Joffe
Bringing new life to your existing space by Interior Architect and Designer Amy May
What books to read during your quarantine from book enthusiast Brooke Williams
There are also posts to help you with your garden, your fitness routine, ideas for quarantine cooking. If you have been diving into projects, we’ve got guidance for cleaning your leather and finding treasures in your jewelry. You get the idea.
You might be asking yourself when you’ll see more posts from me all about what to buy and where to buy it. Honestly, there won’t be much of that for the time being.
Right now, there are many of you who are trying to perform at your job while also giving your kids lots of love and a reasonable amount of education. There are others who have discovered that your income is disappearing or in danger of that. Some members of the Poplin community are watching their businesses disintegrate and are trying to figure out how to “pivot” while balancing the other stressors of pandemic life. Still others are riding this out solo and the internet offers the connection you are seeking. Let us also remember that there are likely some of you who have either been sick or have someone in your world who has. It’s a lot to deal with, folks.
It’s hard for me to identify the solution to these issues as mindless shopping. Yes, it’s important to support businesses who absolutely need it right now. And, yes, self care in the form of retail therapy can be gratifying and fun. Unquestionably, you should feel empowered to do what feels right to take care of yourself, whatever that looks like to you.
To me, this is a slow moving crisis. My husband lived in New York on 9/11 and he said to me, “I keep thinking about that day and how this relates. People keep hoping that we are at 5PM that day, but really, we may not even be at noon yet. We just don’t know.”
The perspective, along with pretending that we have been on a family vacation in an isolated cabin for several weeks, has been very helpful to me. So, each day, I do what feels like the right thing to do that day. Right now, the right thing to do feels like supporting my community by giving you something relevant and inspiring to read. It feels like introducing you to local businesspeople who can be resources for you is also the right thing to do. Right now, it feels like helping you find ways to support our local economy and entrepreneurs is the right thing to do. And above all, it feels like sending you lots of love from here is the right thing to do. So, that’s what we are doing.
Get ready for this kick ass series. It’s good. I promise. And, please share it with friends because everyone needs alternatives to listening to the news 24/7.
P.S. Please tell me you get the newsletter in your inbox. If not, sign up now. These blog posts will come directly to you each week. Enjoy and thanks VERY much for being here.