Helping people prepare for, find, and keep good jobs is what Goodwill is about.

 Hello Everyone and Happy Holidays!

It has been a long while since I wrote and I wanted to connect for just a minute.

It looks like the emergency temporary standard (ETS) order is going through – the one from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requiring employers with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccines. We understand that the Supreme Court is likely to hear the case and make a final ruling by January 4 so there is still the possibility that it won’t hold, but we need to continue moving ahead as if it will. I am so grateful to the COVID Committee for their hard work preparing us for this possibility. Should it go through we will have an extra month to comply with the order, making February 9 the date that weekly testing must start for those electing not to be vaccinated. Remember that we are offering the weekly testing option – it is not a requirement of the ETS order – in an effort to accommodate those that can’t or don’t wish to get vaccinated. The order does require us to ensure that mask wearing is done consistently and correctly by those who are unvaccinated, so for those of you who plan to test weekly, make sure that you have a mask that is in compliance with the order in addition to a plan for your weekly COVID testing.

I think everyone has a feeling about this. Some will feel an immense amount of distress and some will feel a sense of relief. I talked to a friend of mine who is a doctor and they are preparing for another wave of infections given the contagiousness of the Omicron variant. They are exhausted, and health care workers are leaving their jobs in record numbers. I implore you to do what you can to not need their care. As we gather with family and friends, remember to wear your masks correctly and don’t take unnecessary risks that might infect you or a loved one. I want all of you and your families to be healthy as we enter 2022.

We are leaving behind what for many has been a harder year than 2020. By this time most of us know someone who will not be at our holiday gatherings because of COVID. The crisis has moved from acute to chronic – we have been at this for more than 21 months. It’s exhausting and requires new ways of coping, especially when there is no easy solution in sight. The level of stress we are under can feel crippling. So do what you can. Here are a few ideas. Maybe one or two will work for you:

• Focus on something positive, remember what you love – express even a small amount of gratitude. It can be something small – as I sit here I notice that my hands are warm in spite of how cold it is in my office, and I am grateful for my heavy sweater.

• Do something every day that you can impact for the good– so much is out of our control and that increases our stress level – make the bed, write someone a kind note, turn Fremont into a million dollar store! (see?! It can be big or small, congrats to Fremont on making this happen)

• Identify the small things that bring you comfort and do them more – its why so many of us craved Christmas lights early – little things matter.

• When you experience negative feelings about another person, in your mind send them a blessing instead (this can be so hard!), and then give yourself one. I have seen so much grace between people here at Goodwill, even when we don’t agree.

• Take a deep breath in and a long breath out and think of that moment as a re-set for anything you are feeling or thinking. Each moment is new and doesn’t have to be dictated by anything that has come before.

• Do something kind for someone else. Sometimes it helps to get out of our own spiraling negativity to take care of another. Last Friday the IS and WD teams had a little celebration for our Ignite participant who graduated from the 10-week program. Kind words, a congratulations banner, a fancy cupcake, and lots of applause made her feel special and accomplished. And I personally felt GREAT having taken 5 minutes to celebrate someone else.

• Turn off your media and go play a game with your kids, take your dog for a walk, read a book. The 24 hour news cycle does a form of violence to our well-being.

We have so much to be hopeful about in the coming year and so many accomplishments from 2021 to celebrate. Remember that here at Goodwill you are part of something bigger than yourselves – a force for good in the world that makes people’s lives better. I am grateful for all of you.

I hope that every one of you is able to find some joy and peace in the coming days. My best as you celebrate the season.

Jeanette