Welcome back to On The + Side, where we share the sunnier side of life, along with resources meant to bring you joy. From drive-in movies to virtual graduation celebrations, we are here to help make social distancing a lot easier for all. Let’s dive into our latest collection of stories and resources.
Positive Focus
Yesterday, we took the day off to honor the brave members of our Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives to protect our country. Although we may not have been able to hold parades or other large-scale events in their memory this year, communities nationwide still ensured that this day was not forgotten. For this week’s Positive Focus, we’ll share more about these innovative Memorial Day celebrations and other news that inspired us.
- Memorial Day celebrations looked a little different this year, as communities looked for ways to honor our military while practicing safe social distancing. While some hosted drive-by parades, others shared stories of loved ones online or found other meaningful ways to commemorate the day digitally or on television.
- One UCF history professor asked his students to consider an artifact that could represent their experience during the pandemic, and the powerful response from the class moved him to tears.
- Twitter launched a new emoji to express gratitude during the coronavirus pandemic. This emoji will pop up anytime users tweet #gratitude, #thankful or similar words and phrases, including in other languages. We’ve talked about the importance of incorporating a gratitude practice in your life – why not extend that to your next tweet?
- Our health care workers are our heroes! Check out some of the ways that you can virtually thank the doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel that have been working around the clock to save lives and serve others.
- Across the state in Tampa, USF engineering students have manufactured a special plastic strip for face shields to make them more comfortable and easily adjustable. They have donated these shields, along with ear savers, to help medical professionals at Tampa General Hospital.
- Congratulations, grads! Addition Financial recently celebrated the Class of 2020 with our #AddGrads video on social media. We’d also like to congratulate the graduating seniors from our high school branches. We know you will all accomplish great things!
Wellness Boosts
How are you staying healthy at home? We share some of our latest favorite resources to level up your wellness during these times.
For the most up-to-date guidelines on taking care of yourself during this global pandemic, visit the CDC’s website.
Additional Resources
Whether you’re itching to travel again or simply looking for ways to have fun closer to home, we’ve got you covered. Check out this week’s additional resources to help you stay entertained or learn something new.
- For your next at-home movie night, why not watch from your blanket fort? IKEA shares six innovative ways to build your perfect fort.
- Oprah Winfrey has gone on tour – and you don’t need to leave your home to be a part of it! For four consecutive Saturdays, her free live virtual events will focus on finding clarity, building relationships during a time of social distancing, adapting to change, and committing to healthier habits. The sessions will be featured both live on Zoom and archived on demand on social media, so if you miss a session, you can always watch it later.
- You can now visit Machu Picchu online through a 360-degree tour and learn all about this Wonder of the World for free. With travel plans on hold right now, it’s a fantastic way to explore somewhere new.
- We may think of drive-in movies as a thing of the past, but they have officially made a comeback in Orlando! Enzian Theater and Bungalower have teamed up to launch a drive-in movie series in the Curry Ford area, with special takeout options available. Check out the schedule and more information here.
We’ll be back next week with more positive stories and resources to make this time a little easier for everyone. To get notifications when we post a new issue, subscribe to On The + Side.
For the latest COVID-19 updates from Addition Financial, please visit our response page.
