Dear BellaOnline Team -

It has been a challenging year, full of darkness and chaos. I'm sure it's affected all of us in different ways. Massachusetts was hit early and hard. I became so hunkered down that I didn't leave the four walls of my home for over six months straight and barely wrote a word. Dear friends passed away. Others became quite ill. I know that many of you have faced similar challenges.

I was so incredibly inspired by the words of our National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. She was beautifully eloquent and expressive. She gives me hope for our future. If you haven't heard her read her poem yet, I highly recommend it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mTmTdOgv0M

I apologize profusely for my lack of engagement over this past year (and beyond). I let the state of the world seep into my soul. It was hard to get anything done. I am freshly dedicating myself to rise above the shadows and move forward with purpose and compassion.

I wish you and yours the best of health and serenity. The vaccine is rolling out, slowly but surely. We will get there, one day at a time.

Sincerely,

Lisa Shea, owner
BellaOnline.com

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