by Allison Smith –
Months ago, when the pandemic was still in its infancy here in B.C., I wrote that seeing the way the community was pulling together made my heart full. Those first scary days of learning what we were facing will still stand out just as much for the kindness I saw around me as for the fear and isolation, but my heart is no longer full.
The cheers and pot clanging of 7 p.m. have grown silent, the months are dragging on with no end in sight and it’s hard to continue to see the upside of what we are going through. I think we’re all getting pretty tired of “the new normal,” as it’s been coined, and looking forward to the “real normal” making an appearance once again.
As with everything else right now, Seaside has had to adapt. Instead of some of the focuses we usually plan our special features around, we have decided instead to keep things broad, with a wide variety of human interest stories that aim to give everyone the “feel good” aspect we all so desperately need right now. One of the focuses that has had to be put aside until next year is our annual November “How To” issue. This is a topic that’s near and dear to me as it’s all about making things happen for yourself, and exploring your passion, and I’ve spent the last year and a half doing just that.
I’ve written about my growing business before, but little did I know that when I shared my story a year ago, the path for my pursuit would take such a detour in 2020. Gone suddenly were the craft fairs that made up a large portion of my sales, and sadly, gone too were some of the boutiques that supported my work.
I’m lucky that my business is just a “side hustle,” and being Editor-in-Chief of Seaside is still very much my main job. However, so many small businesses and entrepreneurs don’t have the luxury of a backup income, and seeing them suffer has been difficult. The cry of “Shop Local!” has never been louder, and residents have rallied around the and growth, and ultimately, survival. And perhaps, in writing this month’s column, I’ve found a way to fill my heart again.
