Chronicle 2020

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

When our lives get turned upside down

ALEX B I TTNER HOWARD 2002 Chair, Chronicle Committee

When we set out to write this year’s Chronicle , we wanted to highlight how our Old Girls balanced work and life, families and careers, mental health and deadlines. We wanted to demonstrate that work doesn’t define who we are and that we are all more than just our job title. Little did we know, when we decided on the 2020 Chronicle theme of “Balancing Act,” that the world would be examining that same theme very soon. Who are we when we can’t go into the office? What is important when those we love are sick and we can’t be by their side? Who are our role models when athletes and movie stars are at home safe while store clerks and bus drivers are risking their lives for us? I am so incredibly grateful for this involuntary time out: this time to pause, reflect and reprioritize. After having two kids in two years and running my own business through it all, life seemed to be going by so quickly that I couldn’t keep up. Slowing down our days for bike rides and

gardening, virtual games nights with extended family, and finally tackling that laundry list of to do’s seems to be just what our family needed. I’ve actually connected to more people since social distancing began, done more exercise and worked more with my hands. Then again, I am one of the lucky ones. I am safe at home, spending some much-needed quality time with the ones I love most, enjoying life through the eyes of my children; even though they are confused, a little scared and missing their friends, they have never been happier. I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss going out to restaurants with friends or being challenged and stimulated by colleagues at work, but I know we will return to that eventually. When we do, I can only hope that others around the globe have also taken this opportunity to examine their priorities and reflect on what truly matters. Instead of wearing “busy” as a badge of honour, maybe we can look to wearing inspired and rested, happy and balanced.

PHOTO: OLIVIA ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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