Sailing Toward Calmer Seas and Brighter Skies
There is a well-known saying that “we can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” Never has this saying felt more relevant than during the current global pandemic. There are days where it feels we are being blown off course, where we are overwhelmed with information, dealing with isolation, and feeling anxious over things we can’t control. But people are adjusting their sails and navigating their way through the storm in beautiful and touching ways.
While there are countless instances of hardships caused by the pandemic, it has also allowed each of us to slow down and focus on the things that really matter. People are reconnecting with their loved ones and themselves. Many are discovering an inner strength and uncovering new skills they didn’t know they had. The past few months have offered us a time to slow down, reflect on the present moment, pay attention to silver linings, and appreciate the good in the world, all of which enables us to move forward as a better, stronger, and more united community.
During the stay-at-home orders, many businesses and organizations across the state, including our own, had to adapt to a new way of doing things. When dine-in was prohibited, restaurants got creative in offering meal kits for their customers. When hospital visits were restricted, healthcare workers used technology to connect patients with their families. And when PPEs were in short supply, people stepped up to sew masks for our frontline heroes. We, as a community, have prevailed and we will continue to do so as more and more businesses reopen in the coming days, weeks, and months.
Our team not only adjusted our operations to ensure the highest level of care for our patients and their families, but also for one another. Several Navian Hawaii employee-led initiatives surfaced, including a meditation podcast hosted by our very own bereavement counselors and a daily morning blessing from our chaplains to set our intentions for the day. Our team also found new ways to support the wider Hawaii community, offering virtual counseling support to families who have lost a loved one and to healthcare providers and frontline workers who may be facing emotional challenges.
While our staff transitions slowly back to our Navian Hawaii administrative office, we will continue to use technology to communicate virtually with our staff, patients and their families. And we will always, always, work together as a team, because no matter what the future may hold, we know we are stronger as one ohana.
Together with the local community, we will continue to adjust our sails and weather this storm so that we will all emerge in a better and brighter tomorrow.