I heard a song the other day called “Up We Go” and it reminded me of the environment we are in right now.

Here in the islands, travel has opened back up, providing much relief financially and emotionally, especially for those of us separated from loved ones for far too long.

And with it comes the usual questions of how this will work, what challenges we are now going to face, but I cannot help but think of how much stronger we are now than we were seven months ago because we have the stepping stones of our experience to lead us upward.

 In the last seven months, we have scaled, closed, reopened, and created new businesses. We have learned how to do business in a pandemic and learned how to practice our craft safely. Spaces have transformed physically and virtually. And all these changes and adjustments have been like steppingstones leading us up into a new way of living.  We are not only doing things differently, but we are doing things better. And what a beautiful thing that is to celebrate.

“Up We Go”, it is going to be great!

It seems like all we have been doing lately is zooming in.

Zooming in to meetings, classes, birthday parties and celebrations. It’s overwhelming.

I was reminded this week that it is equally as important to Zoom out. To find some perspective. Whether it is physically removing yourself with a walk in the forest, or mentally taking a step back and “watch from the balcony.”

I needed to zoom out the other day. I had a series of conversations that left me jumbled up. I couldn’t see the forest for the trees, so I took a walk, I took a breath, I took a break from it all. And when I did this, all of the problems that at the time seemed so big and jumbled up suddenly became tiny and manageable.

Zooming may not be such a bad idea after all, as long as you make some time to zoom out. 

This photo is of a kiawe tree located along the coastline between Hapuna Beach and Kaunaoa.  Kiawe trees grow where nothing else will grow.  They are the epitome of strength and resilience and I just love everything about it. 

I took this photo yesterday afternoon.  I had planned on enjoying a leisurely walk in solitude (as has become my new norm with the shelter at home orders in effect), but I hadn’t prepared myself for the large crowds of people who were enjoying the beach as a result of the recently lifted ban.  I immediately got upset, as I wanted it to be back to “the way things were” with empty beaches and solitude.  Then I had to laugh at myself, as this is the same reaction I had when the quarantine went into effect!  How quickly we forget!

But there is one thing I don’t; forget, and that is why I started.  Being a business owner in the time of COVID has been a lesson in patience, ingenuity, resilience, and faith.  The “new normal” will likely change ten times over in the coming weeks, but there is one thing that I do know, I started Jaisy Communications because I wanted to help businesses share their story.  That is it.  That will never change, and that is the joy and the beauty that is a result of this pandemic.  The roots of my business are strong, and while the leaves may get jostled from time to time by the storms of life, I will continue to remember why I started.