One year ago today COVID-19 turned our world upside down. Schools closed and we started to wonder if we might have a real problem.
Our concerns were soon validated by shutdowns of many public spaces and businesses, the implementation of mask requirements, and a lot of scary news articles and projections.
We started going one-way down grocery store isles (something I still struggle to remember to do) and keeping 6ft apart at all times. Vacations and weddings were canceled, high school seniors and college freshmen found very different experiences than expected.
The economic fallout was massive but the worst part is the loss of life. At this point I think most of us can name someone who succumbed to COVID, leaving behind loved ones. There are no words for and no way to measure these losses.
All that said, it wasn’t all bad. For starters, I learned many creative ways to explain how far apart 6 feet is (3 golden retriever tails is my favorite so far). Even the RMV became more user friendly by opening drop-off windows. On a more serious note, vaccine development has been accelerated in ways that may well save millions of lives in some future outbreak.
What have I learned or had reinforced over the last year? It’s a long list but here are a few things that really stand out for me:
2.  I will never take hugs and handshakes for granted again. I miss them!
4.  Our community is amazing. I feel so fortunate to live in a community that works so hard to help each other. Our schools and town administration have done a great job of being proactive in managing the crisis (I recognize not all will agree with their decisions on every matter, but I firmly believe they did their best under more than difficult circumstances). Additionally, organizations like the Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Franklin Food Pantry found ways to go above and beyond their already excellent support of our local businesses and families.
5.  Building an insurance agency that was designed to be digital and operate remotely was the right call. Online scheduling, digital signatures, video conferencing, recorded video coverage proposals, and texting were all in place long before no-contact transactions became a necessity. As a result, Safford Insurance continued to operate and provide our clients with exemplary service.
There it is in a nutshell – my takeaways from the last year. What about you? I’d love to hear what you think of the last year and the lessons you’ve learned.
And of course, I’m always here to help with any insurance questions you may have for yourself, your family, or a business. Call, email, or use the form below to get in touch any time.
Sincerely,
Greg Safford