Letters to the editor

Connection beats isolation Five years ago, at the height of the pandemic, I was sitting on my couch completing a Japanese lesson. When the successful completion chime went off, I stared at my phone screen until it went black. I found myself thinking, "If I do not put my roots into this community, I am going to die." That stark realization hinged on a need for connection. My wife and I moved to Findlay three years earlier. As transplants to Ohio, we tried to keep this place at arm's distance. Our plan was to move back to Washington state to be closer to family. COVID-19 was an inflection point for our plans. 2,200 miles from family during a pandemic is a splendid recipe for isolation. Today there are other challenges which isolate just as effectively. Droughts. Shootings. Bombings. Ignorance, fear, and hatred. There is a lot going on in the world, in our nation, in our region, and even in our community to make folks feel isolated. If you, dear readers, are like me, then you may feel overwhelmed and disconnected, sometimes … often … what is more, numbing yourself, shutting down, tuning out or "practicing self-care," seem like sound options. Self-care really ticked up during the COVID-19 shutdown. We were overwhelmed by a constant bombardment of new data, mitigation strategies, and a lack of safe options to connect, not to mention an incessant fear of getting ill, dying or spreading illness to others. Self-care was often our only option. Because our lives are impacted daily by isolating events, we must expand our definition of "self-care." I decided to put my roots into this community by attending a book group with the Black Heritage Library & Multicultural Center in May 2020. I got to make new connections, learn about myself and others, and volunteer to make exciting and engaging programs. Taking the time to build our community connections is essential. Taking advantage of great resources like the Multicultural Center was my solution to overcoming isolation. It can be a solution for you, too. What worked for me may not work for you. Check out the Visit Findlay community calendar. Get out into the community and get connected. Expand your self-care routine to include some fun, some culture, some friends. I am certain a future version of yourself will be happy that you made these connections. Chris Caldwell Findlay