RESILIENCE

Olivia here!

One of the things that kept coming up on our shopping trip was how New York City was finally coming back after COVID. It sure looked like it, with the hordes of people on 5th, 6th, and 7th Avenue. They were all back to their old ways, cursing you for walking too slowly and practically knocking you over with no apologies. Luckily, Kate and I had both lived in the city, we were not only used to it but had mastered the magical zigzag of navigating the crowds. The vendors continued to reminisce about the pandemic and the after-effects of people working from home, businesses closed, and the “new norm” of life in the city and fashion industry. On the second night of the trip, our largest supplier took us to the rooftop of the Ritz. As I entered the bar, I couldn’t help but be in awe of the stunning views surrounding me. It was a panorama of New York City’s finest, the Empire State Building, the

Chrysler Building, and One World Tower. As I stood there staring at the Tower, all lit up next to the crescent moon, I could not help but think how resilient we are as humans.

This trip's topic of conversation was about the pandemic. It was not long ago when

this city experienced another tragic event: 9/11. New York City was brought to its knees. Businesses moved out of town or closed, the toxic smell of jet fuel lingered for months, and a gaping hallowed hole sat waiting for the appropriate memorial. “Never forget” we said. But we did. Not because we are bad people or because we don’t care, but because we needed to move on, and we did. The city came back, better than ever. It is only a matter of time before the pandemic will also become a distant memory. Maybe already has. We mourn for those we lost. We learn from these events and take the necessary steps to avoid repeating them, but we also have the resilience to move on. I think about my own life as well. How did I get through my tragic events? Loss, abuse, divorce, layoffs, moves… I grieved, accepted, acknowledged, and moved forward. I might have needed to forget, but I never gave up.

Until next time,

❤️ Olivia