Dear Friends and Partners;
The year 2020 is like no other. The coronavirus pandemic has caused chaos in our everyday lives. Sheltering-in-place and social distancing have caused schools to close, record unemployment, and loss of businesses that will have a lingering effect on our communities for years to come. It has been a very stressful year, yet all is not lost.
Because of the pandemic, we have had the opportunity to spend valuable time with our families, especially our children. The pandemic has given us a time to reflect on our lives and reset some of our priorities. Some have used the time to make personal improvements such as eating heathier, exercising more, learning new skills, and like me, getting much needed rest. We at IEI are also fortunate to have steady employment, maintaining continuity pertaining to our careers and care for our families. Most importantly, we are fortunate to have our health in a time when a record number of people have succumbed to the infectious and deadly virus. These circumstances can leave us under enormous stress and strain.
There are things that we can do to alleviate the anxiety and stress. First and foremost exercise our rights as Americans and vote in the upcoming local and national elections. Vote for a better future for you and your family. Practice living a healthier lifestyle and save more. Lessen your exposure to the virus by staying away from large crowds and practice social distancing. Stay in touch with friends and family and lift one another’s spirits with our words and deeds. Get a flu shot, wash your hands often and please, please wear a face mask to protect yourself and everyone else from the spread of this awful virus. We can overcome all of these challenges if we are disciplined, diligent and focused. I believe in us and I hope you do to and I remain hopeful that we will return to a better world if we follow if we do the work that needs to be done.