By John Safin, President/CEO, Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce
It's been six months since the shutdown. It might have been necessary at first to slow the spread, as it was said. It's possible the same strategy was valid at the end of June. At a certain point, common sense disappeared and politics took over. How much of what the state government did in August helped Arizona citizens? How much did it hurt our communities and our businesses? Arizonans for the most part are smart. Given honest facts, we could have figured out everything on our own. Unfortunately, the actions of a few people had an impact on the rest of us. Nothing we can do to change that now. So now it’s time to just charge forward.
I'll state this right up front: I think the term “new normal” is ridiculous. This phrase was coined back in 2009 During the Great Recession. The phrase implies our situation will never change. I think we’re all too smart to fall for that scheme. Will things change? Yes; change is part of living and it happens every day. We will do what we have done throughout history: adapt.
Will things be like before the virus hit? Parts of our lives and society will always be what they had been. We are a community. We need each other to live, to grow, to expand, and to have fun. We’re there for each other with a shoulder to lean on or to share a laugh. It’s what humans do.
Start going forward with a friendly group: your fellow Chamber members. Reconnect if needed or introduce yourself to the ones you haven't met. Let’s go into the future together with common sense, common courtesy, a live and let live attitude, and a willingness to help each other as best possible. Together let's be the role model for our community.
It's been six months since the shutdown. It might have been necessary at first to slow the spread, as it was said. It's possible the same strategy was valid at the end of June. At a certain point, common sense disappeared and politics took over. How much of what the state government did in August helped Arizona citizens? How much did it hurt our communities and our businesses? Arizonans for the most part are smart. Given honest facts, we could have figured out everything on our own. Unfortunately, the actions of a few people had an impact on the rest of us. Nothing we can do to change that now. So now it’s time to just charge forward.
I'll state this right up front: I think the term “new normal” is ridiculous. This phrase was coined back in 2009 During the Great Recession. The phrase implies our situation will never change. I think we’re all too smart to fall for that scheme. Will things change? Yes; change is part of living and it happens every day. We will do what we have done throughout history: adapt.
Will things be like before the virus hit? Parts of our lives and society will always be what they had been. We are a community. We need each other to live, to grow, to expand, and to have fun. We’re there for each other with a shoulder to lean on or to share a laugh. It’s what humans do.
Start going forward with a friendly group: your fellow Chamber members. Reconnect if needed or introduce yourself to the ones you haven't met. Let’s go into the future together with common sense, common courtesy, a live and let live attitude, and a willingness to help each other as best possible. Together let's be the role model for our community.