It’s Election Day. I did my part and voted. But honestly, for me, the best part about today being election day is that tomorrow, the campaigns will be finished, and we won’t have to listen to the negativity and constant self-promotion of the campaign ads. We are constantly bombarded by negative and, at times, frightening words, images and ideas these days. It seems like there is nowhere to hide from it all.

Coming out of the past couple of years that have been dominated by the pandemic, we are all waking up to a new world. It feels like everything has changed, and not necessarily for the better. Lockdowns and the isolation resulting from our best efforts to protect ourselves and our loved ones have taken a huge toll on our bodies, minds and spirits. And we can’t go back to before. Lockdowns also meant that we were forced to slow down, stay home more, and prioritize our own health and well-being. In our fast-paced world, we often didn’t even notice that we were neglecting the very things that we treasure the most.

Working from home meant that we were suddenly more connected to our homes, and we realized that a few updates made us happier and often made the day easier. We had forgotten that our homes reflect who we are and who we want to be, and they have the power to inspire or block us in our effort to improve. Being forced to be in our homes more opened our eyes to what needed to change.

Isolation from friends and family showed us the value of relationships. Finding new ways to connect with those we love caused us to reevaluate our relationships and connect in ways we didn’t have time for before. Whether it was a phone call instead of a just quick text, or a video chat with someone you wouldn’t normally, without the everyday distractions, true connection was allowed to grow. Those connections, we are realizing are what gives life meaning. And for those who lost loved ones through the pandemic, the saying ‘Life is short’ never sounded so true.

And so here we are, a couple of years into this, and we are truly not the same people that we were before. Many of us are realizing that things needed to change, and Covid forced us to reevaluate the way we live. Many, including me, quit jobs that didn’t give us what we needed. Some have changed careers, started new businesses, or simply took a better paying job. Others have decided to retire, stay home with the kids, or take some time off to travel or pursue education. We have renovated our homes, taken up baking bread or some other hobby, and we have found a desire to pursue what matters most to us.

My passion behind leaving my job and starting Storied Farm is inspired by my desire to make a change in the world. When I hand a bouquet of flowers to someone, I am sharing something beautiful, and for just a moment at least, they are reminded that there is still beauty in the world. And when those flowers were given as a gift from someone they care about, the feeling of being thought of brings joy with the beauty.

When we care for ourselves, we build a greater capacity to care for others. And, I believe that when we share joy and beauty, we are elevated from the darkness in the world and we are inspired to greater things. Perhaps that is how we change the world.