It’s been a year since CHEQS Magazine became a community magazine – and what a year it’s been! As we go into 2021, we may have hope that the vaccines against coronavirus will help reduce COVID-19, but life will not be returning to ‘normal’ for a while yet – and then there’s Brexit to add into the mix!
January is thought to take its name from the Roman god Janus, whose two faces looked in opposite directions. He was the god of doorways, transitions, beginnings and endings. Although I’m not a great one for making New Year resolutions, I do think it’s a good time to look back to take stock of things, and look forward to plan how we can make life better – for ourselves and those around us.
During the two periods of national lockdown, many people have had the opportunity to assess their lives and work out how to improve certain areas… or perhaps just to eat more cake or chocolate and drink more wine!
There are many different ways to look at our lives: physical and mental health; knowledge & skills; money & possessions; spirituality; relationships; and the artistic and musical aspects of life. At whatever stage we are in life, it’s always good to have times to reflect & plan – which areas of our lives do we want to improve, or perhaps take time to enjoy more?
Challenges can help us review. How do people cope when disaster strikes? What is our foundation and security? What really matters, in the end? If we can discover the answers to these questions, it can help keep some of life’s difficulties in perspective.
As many of us have appreciated so often this year, we’re so fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the country. I think we are also blessed with a wonderful community of people, who are ready to help in time of need, and to rejoice together in times of celebration. I hope the magazine will continue to help us look at various aspects of life, and get to know our communities better. I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all those who support the production – especially those who faithfully deliver the magazines each month: you do an amazing job, and it is much appreciated!
Margaret Stranks – Editor
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CHEQS Archive can be found here.
