Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving as much as you usually do? If not, you’re not alone. Given the escalating positivity rate of covid in our community, region, and state, it’s likely that you won’t spend Thanksgiving as you usually do – surrounded by extended family and friends. Since March, the pandemic has affected nearly everyone, and nearly everything. So of course, Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, however you might normally celebrate, will feel very different this year. With cases of COVID-19 rapidly rising, we all need to recommit to doing everything in our power to put a halt to the spread of this unpredictable virus. That means avoiding gatherings, limiting trips out and being vigilant about precautions such as physical distancing, masking and hand-washing. Healthcare is available at Winona Health 24/7/365, and our healthcare providers are committed to putting our patients and residents first. They and their families are used to not always being together for holidays, but this year will feel very different for them, too. Please keep them, and healthcare providers everywhere, in your thoughts. Honor them by doing whatever you can to help keep yourself and your family safe and healthy. Something that doesn’t have to change this year, is our ability to feel thankful. Studies have shown that gratitude has a positive effect on physical and mental health, improves sleep and increases mental strength, among other benefits. So, don’t let COVID-19 take that kind of thanksgiving away from you. We can focus on being thankful for our ability to stay connected through social media, FaceTime, Skype, zoom or what have you. Thankful that we can send or receive a note or package to bring a smile to someone’s face and to let them know we are thinking of them; thankful for the companionship and antics of a pet who brings us comfort and laughs; thankful for good books and interesting and entertaining shows; and thankful for knowing that, while we may be unable to physically gather like we usually do, we remain connected. Something I’m deeply thankful for is our providers, caregivers and staff at Winona Health. Their resilience and dedication are inspiring. To those of you who have a friend or relative who works here – or who is a caregiver somewhere else, you know the challenges they can face during the best of times, and now, those challenges are multiplied due to this virus. Our staff steps up and steps in however they can to fill the void created when our patients’ and residents’ family members can’t be there. I’m also thankful for the good wishes, kind words and gratitude expressed to our Winona Health staff. I hope you experience and share acts of kindness and find something that makes you feel a deep sense of gratitude through this season of Thanksgiving.
English 
Español 
Hmong