W42ST Daily 3/16/2020 - Grace & Hope

SIGN UP – to our new daily update! If only Kind was a first name, we would have a perfect trio of people to get us through this. But Kind has not yet caught on as a name, so let’s just deal with Grace and Hope.

With Grace is how we all want to deal with this crisis. Grace is also the name of W42ST’s newest employee, who put her remarkable energy into our small business for three months as we planned to expand. Last week, we had to let her go. We knew we could not afford the cost. It was so sad for us – and especially for Grace. Tears were shed. It’s a story that every local business will be sharing this week. Every mail and message from a restaurant or bar or gym or store deciding to close until further notice was like a punch to the stomach. We know we’ll get through this though – this flu shall pass.

Grace, by coincidence, is the name of the New York angel who posted on her door a message to her neighbors. Read this – and find it within you (if you have the resource) to do the same. Just write something down, post on your door (not on social media). Connect with real neighbors in this time of isolation.

By the Trader Joe’s reference, you can tell this wasn’t in Hell’s Kitchen. But that’s a discussion for another day!

And as for Hope… When W42ST started, we had a colleague called Hope. When you see an advert in the magazine for Manhattan Plaza Health Club or a Disney theater production, it’s down to Hope’s hard work in our startup phase over five years ago.

Hope’s still a fan and supporter. When I asked for help from our readers to make this newsletter valuable and uplifting, she was the first to respond.

Take some time to read this article about how to help your neighbor. We’ve all got something to give at this challenging time.

I stood at my window last night and sang “New York, New York” at 7pm. I intend to do the same until I connect with neighbors. It might be tomorrow, it might be in two weeks’ time… but it’s a little thing that helps give me hope. Hope is important now, as is grace.

Please email with your thoughts. Ruth and I will be here every morning – we want to help connect in a time of isolation. Keep connecting with us too. Keep safe, keep smiling, keep singing.

What we’ve been reading…

To save you going down the rabbit hole of social media – we’ve been there for you already. Here are some stories worth a peek (then get back to that book!).

Public schools, bars and restaurants are to close.

How to make your day as productive as possible.

Could remote training be the answer if you want to keep your fitness levels up during the pandemic?

Hey! It’s OK to have your pooch sharing the bedcovers.

While you watch this awesome video of The Killers’ Brandon Flowers washing his hands to Mr Brightside, we’re pondering our own quarantunes playlist. Any suggestions?