The Power of the Human Touch

About the Author Connie enjoys working with local Hospice Groups and Veterans Associations. The military is very close to her heart, with her father being a Pearl Harbor Survivor, and her sweetheart retired Navy. Helping support local hospice groups is very rewarding for Connie, and she feels being a part of the Spilsbury team is an awesome opportunity. She is the mother of seven daughters and nineteen grandchildren, who are “the joy of her heart”. She loves being of assistance to those in our community who do so much for each of us.

2021 is here with a resounding feeling of hope and a fervent wish that the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel may not be a train! Seriously, I think we are all breathing a sigh of relief to finally be able to put last year behind us.

Recently, my friend Karen shared a meaningful holiday experience with me and described how it By Connie Zdunich had provided healing and filled her with joy. Due to health issues, she had been sheltering at home for nearly a year and was beginning to feel a bit lost and disconnected going into the holiday season. However, the cards, texts, and calls she received during the holidays lifted her spirit and left her feeling encouraged to reach out to her neighbors and “pay” her joy forward.

A plan of what this might look like came together in her mind. She decided that when she took her daily stroll, she would tape a note to random doors in her neighborhood. Some of her neighbors were strangers who had moved in within the last year. Although she had waved to them from a distance, she had not become acquainted with them.

So…here is the rest of the story; the joy started to spread! As she was leaving her house one morning, Karen was delighted to find a note on her door. Through this letter, one of the new move-ins introduced herself and included a photo (with no mask!). The new neighbor wrote about the difficulty of moving from another state in the middle of the pandemic without knowing anyone but her niece, who lived across town and worked all week.

A wonderful friendship developed between these two ladies, and together they have continued to reach out to those around them. They have now found a small group of quilters, one of which is a very talented gentleman. Members of the group make individual quilt squares, and their new friend Jack pieces the squares together into baby quilts that are then donated to those in need.

The amazing and inspiring part of this story is the power of the human touch, even from afar! One kind and thoughtful person decided to share her joy in a handwritten note taped to a new neighbor’s door. Now, the world is a brighter place. Karen’s life is richly blessed by new friendships. And by continuing to reach out in this crazy world we now live in, new friends have come together, sharing their talents and bringing a small gift of comfort, love, and joy into the lives of others who are struggling. Once again, we see a shining testament of the goodness, hope, and joy that continues to resound in our communities. Amazing people, mindful of those around them, are willing to step up and reach out to lift others.

Welcome, 2021. We are ready for you!

The Power of the Human

By Connie Zdunich

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