Heroes & Helpers –

Carmen Duarte, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at OneBeacon shared this lovely and uplifting message on LinkedIn:

“After two months of our pandemic lifestyle, I still find that most conversations – whether with work colleagues or friends – include some commentary on our ‘new normal.’ I suppose this reflects the depth of our surprise, and perhaps that the answers are still unclear. The most consistent observation I’ve heard is that we’re living more slowly. And this moderated pace means we’re more observant. For example, I’d say this is the first year I’ve fully appreciated spring. Over the past month, Boston’s cityscape has been magically transformed by blossoming trees. Some neighborhoods have symmetrical awnings of magnolias, while others are dotted with various flowering species. In prior seasons, I considered spring as the time for resuming evenings at Fenway Park, running outdoors with fewer layers and the start of the grilling season. Walking around to look at blossoming trees was not on my “to-do” list. These days, however, I’ve been grateful for this gift of nature that I suspect you’ve also enjoyed in recent weeks. So let’s heed the benefits of living slowly and taking in all that’s around us. Those ballparks will be waiting for us next spring!”

(photo taken in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood)