Letter from the editor
Hello November. From my perspective, November is a gentle invitation to pause. To take a deep breath, look around, and express gratitude. The excitement of warm weather, the thrill of summer vacations, the beginning of a new school year, are all behind us, while the holidays are coming up around the bend. The beginning of November offers a fleeting moment of calm and a brief second to let the dust settle.
It’s during this stillness that I find a heart overflowing in gratitude. The leaves are crunching under my feet as I breathe in the crisp, Autumn air. There is nothing quite as satisfying as a hot cup of tea and a cozy blanket on a cool November morning. There is a sense of togetherness as loved ones gather and we all quietly acknowledge the calm before the holiday storm. Hallmark movies are playing on TV, Christmas music is buzzing across the radio waves, and our toes are staying warm by the fireplace.
November is not without holidays, altogether though. Two important, yet less commercialized holidays are in November: Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.
I can not think of any holiday more deserving of our gratitude and respect than Veterans Day. As Americans, we spend every day enjoying the freedom and safety that our troops have laid their lives on the line for. Our Veterans have seen and experienced unfathomable circumstances. As the saying goes, “freedom is not free.”
Veterans paid, and continue to pay the price for the freedom that so many of us often take for granted. Their bravery and sacrifices allow us to enjoy the simple day-to-day lives that we lead.
All the while, so many Veterans and their families live with a constant reminder that freedom comes at a great cost. Countless Veterans live their lives with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). These trauma injuries dramatically affect the mental and emotional health of those that fought for our country. So much so that the rate of suicide among veterans is more than twice the national average. Veterans account for seven out of every ten suicides nationally. This sends a clear message that we, as a nation, must do more to support our soldiers during their active duty service, and especially after they come home.
This Veterans Day, and in all the days that follow, I encourage you to thank a veteran. Make a card or send a gift to a veteran that you know personally. Donate financially to programs like Wounded Warrior or your local VA. Support Veteran-owned businesses, or go out of your way to hire a veteran that may be looking for work. There are so many ways to express gratitude for our troops. Whether you do it with your words, your heart, your service, or your wallet, just take a few moments this month to honor those who have fought for our freedom.
As the holidays approach, I encourage you to always think local first. We love to call the Jersey Shore home. Keeping our dollars in our community helps local families put dinner on the table, buys Christmas presents for local children, and keeps the light on for South Jersey families. Check out our wonderful advertisers throughout this publication. Each and every advertisement in Shore Local highlights one of our incredible local businesses. Consider spending your money this holiday season at one of these locations, or the countless other small businesses in our area. Together, we are better.
This month, and every day of the year, I am thankful for all of you: Shore Local readers. We are made possible through your year-round love and support. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Peace & Love,
Cindy
