During This Pandemic Crisis

​
​During this time of the CoVid-19 we find out a great deal about ourselves.  As a community, a nation, as a person, as a society; we discover our patterns, our beliefs, scruples and values.  We're also learning in a very different way with the social distancing. Through the news media, I've learned of the ridicule and the lies that people casually throw out or push within their agenda.  I'm not talking politically only; this is not a political post.  We all have to decide where we stand because we espouse a democracy.

But what we all will, and are experiencing socially is--what will evolve with this pandemic.  Businesses are going to close and many will close and not reopen. Just this week through my job, a new business is thinking of starting up! To me, that's the inevitable crocus bursting through that last bit of white, cold snow refusing to go away.  So, I can only encourage it.  We all know the risks; there should be no reason that we're going into anything with our eyes wide shut.  We have what we are suppose to believe usually shoved down our throats 24/7.  Some of us prefer to live with our heads in the sand and eyes wide shut, but that is their prerogative too; again a democracy.

---

​There is an opportunity here however; to come out the other side, we can embrace our businesses as many of us ARE staying home. Entrepreneurs, with fortitude and tenacity, still need to be encouraged and welcomed to think of the 'new future'.  We won't be in our homes forever.  Maybe this is a turning point, and I've shared this before that perhaps more businesses will turn to internet websites.  Maybe that's a necessity.  Maybe because there will be another pandemic; I know I'm quite certain of it.  Hopefully we will be better prepared then, while in the meantime we still keep our store fronts and welcome those Intentional Acts of Community.  Now to utilize those Intentional Acts we think of 'community,' in a different form. 

Will we get back to a better future?  Will that person who wants to start a business, or an older person such as myself, starting after retirement who don't have assets to start a business, get that break.  Can banks re-evaluate their 'needs' for a note.  Can we use the buildings on our streets where the landlord believes its 'worth a mint' but be willing to just have 'life' within it again?  Can we collaborate...

---

Wow! There's a new concept! Work together? We are seeing it now because countrymen and women are seeing their fellow person's need and are stepping up to the plate.

Like you saw in my video outside Floral & Finds in my home of Clear Lake, people will be wanting to leave their cities now after this.  Realtors not only have to sell a house, they need to sell the community.  

But a community needs to sell itself. I'm reminded of workshops and conferences that I've attended --are our towns and communities really appealing to others?   Would they want to live here?  Are we friendly, welcoming, fixing our streets, our stores, our neighborhoods and more?  Or do we think it's 'their' job and so it never gets done?  The likelihood of people wanting to live more rural or move away from the dense populations are very possible. Reports in Vermont were when people were leaving New York State, they were hostile.  But rightly so IF they were not quarantining themselves.  But otherwise, we as in 'community', better embrace a possible change with open arms, OR DIE --brainstorming ways to help struggling businesses and communities.

---

Another area I have been shown is with Loree Gaikowski and Anita Holan; 'going local' is embracing important issues facing the 'Ag community'.  One of them is our current meat industry which is slowly trying to burst on the scene with all the political fighting. They cannot quite make the scene due to it being a political election year of warring.  The next blog posted is an interview I've done with Loree on these important issues.

There are little ways we can help Ag and small entrepreneurs.  Find and support the 'home goods' businesses as well.  Katy Kassian of Tate & Kate calls it "'ferreting out' the home goods folk." Have you ever had a country egg?  Do you even know how long those 'store-bought eggs' have been circulating before they even make it the stores? There are those that make fresh jams & Jellies. Deuel Area Development has a kitchen incubator in Toronto, SD that offers space to help the entrepreneur begin a business with a home recipe. Have you heard of Day of the Dead Salsa in South Dakota?  Or a meat locker where we can support the local beef farmer and still help with taxes going to our communities. The list is endless; veal, chickens, eggs, soap, dairy products, home goods and more. But it takes a deliberate act of consciousness and conscience to do it, let alone think it.

These are my thoughts for now.  I'm busy as I social distance.  My brain runs amuck.  My heart is in the right place.  Whether we're rural or city, country or town, we owe it to ourselves, our communities and our neighbors to be the best we can be.

Joan
​Owner of Travel Backroads

---