Another year coming to a close. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here.

I’m so grateful for the COKANNA Virtual Coffee Shop group. This community has really kept me going over the past two years. Two years! Can you believe we’ve been living with Covid for this long? It still seems surreal at times.

I hope you were able to get together with loved ones this holiday season. It certainly wasn’t what we had planned. In my family, we scaled back a big family get together to a couple of smaller gatherings. It wasn’t ideal but I’m thankful no one had to spend the entire holiday alone this year.

I’m grateful you’ve shopped locally this season and supported small independent makers and businesses. It’s how we support one another and keep small businesses alive and well.

It’s truly amazing we have the know how to make vaccines that have helped us get back to connecting with one another. Back to working and learning together side-by-side, back to travelling and seeing each other face-to-face, and back to hugging one another. We cannot thrive without physical touch. It’s how we embrace life.

And, thank goodness for technology. As much as we dislike, or at least feel guilty about, being attached to our phones, it has provided a means to stay connected. It’s hard to imagine there was a time, not long ago, when we could only connect by voice over a phone line. I remember thinking how cool would it be to actually see their face in real time too, a lá the Jetsons. Now, my daughter doesn’t remember a time when this wasn’t an ordinary everyday thing.

Thank you for being a customer, a member of the coffee shop community, a Keeping Abreast newsletter subscriber, a Kanbassador, and for always providing me with insightful comments and feedback.

I look forward to another year of growth, connection, trying new things, failing, and trying again. I hope you’ll continue to come along for the ride and bring along a friend or two. Have them sign up for the Keeping Abreast blog to keep in the know. And, have them join the COKANNA Virtual Coffee Shop where they’ll have access to free monthly coffee shop presentations and workshops with special guests. The more, the merrier. A place where we learn, grow, comfort, encourage, and laugh together.

Wishing you and your family a safe, healthy and happy new year!

Until next year,

~ Colleen

Colleen Kanna

I’m a recovering Chartered Accountant and Breast Cancer Champion turned Fashion Designer. My COKANNA Canadian-made bamboo clothing is all about comfort and style. Giving back to the community is important to me so I support Rethink Breast Cancer‘s metastatic breast cancer education, support, and advocacy work.