Daily 30-Second Audio Messages from CEO, Marki Flannery – March 25 through December 31
Each morning during the COVID-19 public health crisis, CEO Marki Flannery has been sharing a short audio message with staff. It is just one way of keeping us all connected.
To hear the messages, please click on the links below. Thank you, and have a safe day!
To listen to the 2021 messages, click here.
March 25 – “I wanted to reach out to everyone at VNSNY and say a warm, heartfelt thank you for being out there during this difficult and scary time. Know you are in my thoughts and prayers until this health crisis is over.” – Note from a patient
March 26 – “I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve
March 27 – “When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded, and press on.” – LL Cool J
March 30 – An update from Marki Flannery, President and CEO
March 31 – “You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
April 1 – “Our staff is the front line of defense during this epidemic. similar to the acts of some of the medal of honor recipients and soldiers I served with, I have been so moved by the courage, selflessness, and determination of our nurses, social workers, liaisons, spiritual care counselors, physicians, and supporting staff.” – Joe Vitti, Hospice Veterans Program Supervisor
April 2 – “My years have been in the education department, training home health aides and nurses on how to help our patients with self care and body mechanics to help prevent injuries. Since classes have been cancelled, I am taking attendance to make sure our clients have the home health aides that they need.” – Sonia Rapaport, Physical Therapist and Rehabilitation Instructor
April 3 – “I love the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. You guys rock! God bless all of you and thank you for your services.” – Facebook post
April 6 – “Great thanks for the gift I received a box of medical supplies! Thanks for the supplies and thanks for the attention. I’m happy to be with VNSNY CHOICE!” – Call from a CHOICE plan member
April 7 – “Anything for my friends at VNSNY! You gave my father five extra years of life because of your care. You had my grandmother until she was 99 years old. And you cared for me after lung surgery.” – Email from a COVID-19 supplies vendor
April 8 – “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly, you’re doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi
April 9 – “I’m so proud of our staff! They want to be here, they care, and they want to help those in the community who are confused or fearful about all the changes that are happening.” – Teresa Lin, Director, Cultural Market Development Initiatives
April 10 – “Hard times don’t create heroes, it is during hard times when the hero within us is revealed.” – Bob Reilly (via Frank Passarella, Director of Safety and Security, who added, “This is all of our VNSNY staff!”)
April 13 – “With this virus, there’s no control, and no end date. No one is on solid ground. But at least we can let people know they are not alone.” – Pamela Yew Schwartz, Bereavement Counselor
April 14 – “Our VNSNY nurse just left. I could literally weep, I’ve been so overwhelmed— I’m nearly at my breaking point. Thank you so very much. I feel less alone in handling my father’s care now that VNSNY is engaged.” – Email from the daughter of a patient
April 15 – “All of my staff are my heroes. They are putting aside their own fears and doing what’s best for the people in our community. We haven’t stopped, despite the fact that we’re in a global infectious disease pandemic.” – Deirdré DeLeo, Associate Director, CMHS Programs and Clinical Operations
April 16 – “I am so proud to be part of this company. It make me happy to know that during times of disaster, illnesses, and the current pandemic, we have remained true to our values and to the mission of our founder.” – Email from Georgiana Cemento, Program Coordinator, Health Home
April 17 – “Massive respect to the life saving staff of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York. You are healing more than the body. Amazing!” – Facebook post
April 20 – “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me: ‘Look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I’m always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers— so many caring people in the world.” – Fred Rodgers
April 21 – “We are New Yorkers, and we are strong! Stay safe, and keep positive.” – Email from Caroline Flynn, Mental Health Specialist, Bronx Children Mobile Crisis Team
April 22 – Email from a Partners in Care client
April 23 – “The greatest gift I can give to to the world is my service, my caring, my commitment, my love, and my compassion. When this pandemic is over, things will never be the same, because we will become better humans living in a better world.” – Email from Cidric Trinidad, RN
April 24 – “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” – Maya Angelou
April 27 – “A person who helps others, simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed— without a doubt— a real superhero.” – Stan Lee
April 28 – A story from Ted Kennedy Jr.
April 29 – “It’s often in the darkest skies, that we see the brightest stars.” – Richard Evans
April 30 – “You all provide stability, order, and most of all, hope. Don’t underestimate how important you are to the people you’re touching every day.” – Daughter of a VNSNY Care360° Solutions Patient
May 1 – “They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
May 4 – “Taking care of yourself is the most powerful way to begin to take care of others.” – Bryant McGill
May 5 – “No matter what we see and hear in this time of disaster, pain and suffering, the one thing that matters most is the ability to reflect the goodness of our hearts, and to share it through comfort and loving words to every person we encounter.” – Email from Alfred Sarte, RN, Hospice
May 6 – “From caring, comes courage.” – Lao Tzu
May 7 – “True heroism is not the urge to surpass others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” – Arthur Ashe
May 8 – “I’ve been at VNSNY for 13 years. The work I’ve been doing and observing over the last month has filled me with a sense of pride and awe. The dedication and hard work of our people, their sense of mission and community, and their desire to do whatever it takes, has made me feel so fulfilled. I have to believe that Liliane Wald is looking down at us with tremendous pride.” – Email from Jane Cholak, Business Development
May 11 – “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we led.” – Nelson Mandela
May 12 – “How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” – Florence Nightingale
May 13 – “I just wanted to say thank you for your daily words of encouragement. We’ve been helping our patients use Facetime to communicate with their loved ones on a daily basis. If you were able to see how their faces light up when they’re able to see their loved ones— these families are so very grateful.” – Email from Cynthia McGill, LPN at the Goodman-Brown Hospice Residence
May 14 – “Pure individual heroism is a daily occurrence if we know where to look for it.” – Tina Brown
May 15 – “Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good— put together— that overwhelm the world.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu
May 18 – “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Christopher Robin
May 19 – “A big thank you to all of the nurses and other home care workers in the field who go out and take care of someone else other than themselves. My prayers are with you all.” – Facebook post
May 20 – “I try to be that flashlight in an otherwise dark woods, to show them the path of what they can expect.” – Kathleen Jaeger, Hospice Liason
May 21 – “I feel a connection between both VNSNY and Partners in Care, and the caring that everyone is showing towards our wonderful home health aides.” – Rosa Marcus, Associate Director of Certified Services, Partners in Care
May 22 – “Courage is not having the strength to go on, it’s going on when you don’t have the strength.” – Theodore Roosevelt
May 26 – “Thank you for being part of my life. You make everything worth fighting for to live.” – WeCare Wellness Program Client
May 27 – “Never give in. Never, never, never, never. In nothing great or small, large or petty— never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” – Winston Churchill
May 28 – “You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience— facing and overcoming adversity— is actually one of your biggest advantages.” – Michelle Obama
May 29 – “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” – Vince Lombardi
June 1 – “You gotta have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how are you gonna have a dream come true?” – Oscar Hammerstein II
June 2 – An update from Marki Flannery, President and CEO
June 3 – “Life is like riding a bicycle— To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
June 4 – “There’s no quitting, this is my job. As community health nurses, we run towards the fire— we don’t run away.” – Nina Miro, RN
June 5 – “Barn’s burnt down. Now I can see the moon” – Mizuta Masahide
June 8 – “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali
June 9 – “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
June 10 – “These are human beings, they are not the virus. They are people who need us and who shouldn’t be left behind.” – Leah Sansano, PT
June 11 – “We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced.” – Malala Yousafzai
June 12 – “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” – Yogi Berra
June 15 – “When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell
June 16 – “Lillian Wald would be really proud of us. Our founder marched for equality, she marched for justice, she marched for minorities— and here we are, maintaining that tradition.” – Richard Rothstein, VP, Enterprise Communications
June 17 – “There’s no better time than now to be a nurse in training. If we can get through this, we can get through anything!” – Danielle Caldone, Licensed Practical Nurse
June 18 – “Thank you so much for your incredible strength and bravery during this virus. I am in awe of you.” – Note from a VNSNY Donor
June 19 – “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman
June 22 – “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and on unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” – Harry Truman
June 23 – “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore
June 24 – “Face reality as it is, not as it was.” – Jack Welch
June 25 – “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin
June 26 – “If everything was perfect, you would never learn, and you would never grow.” – Beyoncé
June 29 – “I can accept failure, but I cant accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan
June 30 – “You’ll never be bored when you try something new. There’s really no limit to what you can do.” – Dr. Seuss
July 1 – “In our work, and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction.” – Audrey Lorde (via Patricia Wrublewski, Hospice Nurse and Supervisor, who added, “As a hospice nurse, I have seen differences. But the similarities in how we humans live, love, and take care of our family members— especially as they are dying— are profound. These differences add color, texture, and fabric to this life.”)
July 2 – “You have to love a nation that celebrates it’s independence day every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die of happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it’s patriotism.” – Erma Bombeck
July 6 – “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” – Willie Nelson
July 7 – “Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew.” – Cicely Tyson
July 8 – “‘Go back?’ he thought. ‘No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!'” – An excerpt from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
July 9 – “Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles.” – Tina Fey
July 10 – “Progress is impossible without change. And those who cannot change their minds can’t change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
July 13 – “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
July 14 – “These are my principles— and if you don’t like them— well, I have others.” – Groucho Marx
July 15 – “I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that t won’t work.” – Thomas Edison
July 16 – “Complacency is a continuous struggle we all have to fight.” – Jack Nicklaus
July 17 – “This note is to let you know of the wonderful care my husband had in hospice at home with your nurse Jasmine. Her professionalism, empathy, and skill in getting us the resources we needed made his passing as comforting as it could possibly be.” – Letter from a VNSNY Patient praising hospice nurse Esmeralda Jasmine Tsai
July 20 – “I don’t work at being ordinary.” – Paul McCartney
July 21 – “A life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson
July 22 – “If you’re not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take the long hard look and just believe that if you’re consistent, you will succeed.” – John Lewis
July 23 – “To engender empathy and create a world using only words is the closest thing we have to magic.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda
July 24 – “What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident— just do it! And eventually the confidence will follow.” – Carrie Fisher
July 27 – “Faith is taking the first step when you can’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
July 28 – “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about the progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others— for their sake and for our own.” – César Chávez
July 29 – “The day after my daughter came home from the hospital, we were fortunate to have Connie assigned as her visiting nurse. Had it not been for Connie’s visits, I don’t know how I would have survived! Connie is an amazing, skilled nurse and individual who exemplifies the meaning of empathy, knowledge, and sincere compassion.” – Email from the mother of a patient, praising RN Constance Evans
July 30 – “There’s too much darkness in the world. Everywhere you turn, someone is trying to tear someone down in some way. Everywhere you go there’s a feeling of inadequacy, or a feeling that you’re not good enough. I want to bring a certain light to the world.” – Alicia Keys
July 31 – “To fly we have to have resistance.” – Maya Lin
August 3 – “Do the right thing, it will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” – Mark Twain
August 4 – “We dream to give ourselves hope. To stop dreaming, well, that’s like saying you can never change your fate.” – Amy Tan
August 5 – “One of the things I had mentioned to the staff in the supply room the last time I was there was that I needed alcohol bottles to make my own wipes. This was a month ago. The people in the supply room remembered, and immediately offered me the larger bottles when I came in yesterday. So thank you for listening!” – Occupational Therapist John Jr. Liu, in an email praising VNSNY’s medical supply room.
August 6 – “As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might.” – Marian Anderson
August 7 – “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley
August 10 – “Laughter is an instant vacation.” – Milton Berle
August 11 – “When you learn something from people, or from a culture, you accept it as a gift— and it is your lifelong commitment to preserve it and build on it.” – Yo-Yo Ma
August 12 – “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows; it’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life, but it ain’t about how hard ya’ hit— it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa
August 13 – “Right now is one of those moments when we are influencing the future.” – Steve Jobs
August 14 – “All people have hope, that’s what brings the next day, and whatever that day may bring. Hope grounded in the real world of living, friendship, work, and family.” – Bruce Springsteen
August 17 – “I never, ever focus on the negative. I always look at the positive.” – Sonia Sotomayor
August 18 – “I always feel the movement is a sort of mosaic.” – Alice Paul
August 19 – “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” – Mahatma Gandhi
August 20 – “From your immediate response in sending our wonderful nurse Jennifer McCabe who correctly helped us realize that I needed to be hospitalized— to the extraordinary kindness and help given to me by home health aide Paula Seymour— to the professional and most helpful work of physical therapist Peter Wu and occupational therapist Sarah Bravo— the support given to me by VNSNY has made my recovery possible.” – Letter from a VNSNY patient
August 21 – “It’s dark under the lamp.” – Korean proverb
August 24 – “The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” – Bill Russell
August 25 – “We couldn’t do it without help from all the people and departments at VNSNY, from clerical staff to upper management, I believe the organization became one strong family working together as a result of the coronavirus.”– Natalya Gefter
August 26 – “Let’s do it right. This is for the ages.” – I. M. Pei
August 27 – “If they dont give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” – Shirley Chisholm
August 28 – “A lot of flowers make a bouquet.” – Islamic proverb
August 31 – “Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism. The way you play it is free will.” – Jawaharlal Nehru
September 1 – “If you have a chance to accomplish something better for people coming behind you, and you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on earth.” – Roberto Clemente
September 2 – “Hold fast to your dreams, for if your dreams die, life is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” – Langston Hughes
September 3 – “In April, in the middle of the worst pandemic ever, my 98-year old mother was admitted to the hospital with the coronavirus and pneumonia. A few days later, the hospital wanted to release her back to her home, or to a nursing home or rehab facility. My siblings and I were seriously at a loss on what to do. That night I received a call from an angel in the form of VNSNY’s Annelisa Purdie. When I told her what was going on, and the impending hospital release, Annelisa was the voice of reason— taking the emotion out and giving us all the information we needed to make our decision. Thank you Annelisa for providing such great guidance. You really made a difference, not only in the life of our 98-year old CHOICE member but in the lives of our family as well.” – Letter from the daughter of a CHOICE member, writing about care coordinator Annelisa Purdie
September 4 – “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott
September 8 – “It’s hard to put into words, but Yolanda treated our mother as she would treat her own mother. She gave her so much love, understanding, and had supreme patience with her as well. For some time now we consider Yolanda as part of our extended family.” – Letter from the family of a patient praising Partners in Care home health aide Yolanda Colon
September 9 – “Real change— enduring change— happens one step at a time.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
September 10 – “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. If you go out and make good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, and you’ll fill yourself with hope.” – Barack Obama
September 11 – “We can’t change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” – Proverb
September 14 – “The measure of a country’s greatness is it’s ability to retain compassion in times of crisis.” – Thurgood Marshall
September 15 – “You’re guidance was impeccable. it made it possible for us to fulfill my mission to keep my husband at home to the end of his life. It was my privilege to have you as a care manager, especially during these challenging times. You are truly a wonderful individual.” – Letter from a CHOICE member to care coordinator Dorita Ginzburg
September 16 – “I’m not missing a minute of this, it’s the revolution.” – Sylvia Rivera
September 17 – “It’s always been important to me to take good care of myself, and be a good example. I’m not much of a role model in terms of hair care though.” – Patti Smith
September 18 – “Rosh Hashanah is about relationships, whether between individuals and the God in whom they believe, communities and traditions which define them, or simply between individuals, whether any God or tradition is part of their lives. It’s all about sustaining relationships, which sustain us, and help us to do the same for others.” – Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
September 21 – “You helped my husband when he came home from rehab after hip surgery, and were beginning to help him through a another episode when this crisis began and we had to cancel the visits. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces again sometime in the future. Thank you for all you do!” – Family member of a patient
September 22 – “And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” – Oscar Wilde
September 23 – “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world— for indeed— that’s all who ever have.” – Margaret Mead
September 24 – “I hated every minute of training, but I said ‘Don’t quit— suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.'” – Muhammad Ali
September 25 – “You know you’re old when someone compliments you on your alligator shoes and you’re barefoot.” – Phyllis Diller
September 28 – “Never look down on someone, unless you are helping them up.” – Reverend Jesse Jackson
September 29 – “I take it extremely seriously to do absolutely the best work possible and the truest work possible, because I feel like that is what’s going to resonate— not only for myself but hopefully for an audience.” – Sandra Oh
September 30 – “It’s hard to get people to like you, but it’s even harder to keep people liking you.” – Mindy Kaling
October 1 – “I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – Anne Shirley
October 2 – “Your victory is right around the corner— never give up.” – Nicki Minaj
October 5 – “A superhero movie is only as great as it’s villains.” – Chadwick Boseman
October 6 – “Life is not knowing— having to change, taking the moment, and making the best of it— without knowing what’s going to happen next.” – Gilda Radner
October 7 – “We take care of people in their homes. That means we can’t ever separate those we’re caring for from their communities and their daily lives. What has made VNSNY special over the years is our flexibility and our philosophy of caring— Our ability to keep moving forward and continually develop new programs that are responsive to community needs. That, to me, is VNSNY in a nutshell.” – Marilyn Liota
October 8 – “A person always doing his or her best becomes a natural leader, just by example.” – Joe DiMaggio
October 12 – “Our first teacher is our own heart.” – Cheyenne proverb
October 13 – “Look at people for an example, but then make sure to do things your way. Surround yourself with positive people.” – Queen Latifah
October 14 – “It is important for all of us to appreciate where we came from, and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand.” – Sonia Sotomayor
October 15 – “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
October 19 – “Fall down seven times, get up eight times.” – Japanese proverb
October 20 – “I’m doing everything I can, working with experts, really studying the statistics, to figure out a way to make it cool or normal to be kind and loving.” – Lady Gaga
October 21 – “After back surgery in August, one of my requests was to have the Visiting Nurse Service of New York come to my home and take care of me. I didn’t really know what exactly they would do, or how I would be treated. The following day I received a call from a nurse named Millie Moy-Thompson. She informed me that she would be at my home the next day, and what to expect. Mrs. Thomas arrived the next day and I was kind of surprised. I expected a stern nurse, but she was a relaxed, calm, casual nurse, who made me feel calm and relaxed. Millie, as she told me to call her, was just what I needed at this time. Millie presented herself professionally, with empathy to care, and she listened to my concerns. She was knowledgeable to my needs and courteous, not to mention she was funny! Millie was the dose of medication I needed.” – Letter from a patient
October 22 – “You’re off to great places, today is your day. You’re mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” – Dr. Seuss
October 26 – “My hope is to continue the conversation on inclusion, and to bring an important perspective to the question of how we can continue to provide the best services for all communities.” – VNSNY CHOICE Board Member Mark Godfrey
October 27 – “This year’s flu vaccine can be the most important one you ever get. With COVID-19 still around, it’s especially important for you to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the flu an needing medical care. Get vaccinated today!” – NYC Department of Health poster
October 28 – “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Kahlil Gibran
October 29 – “We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.” – Stephen King
November 2 – “There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you.” – Derek Jeter
November 3 – “If you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain.” – George Carlin
November 4 – “Health information is just about the number one thing that people go into public libraries and connect to public libraries for. They’re also looking for things that can make their lives better.” – Carla Hayden
November 5 – “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.” – The Rolling Stones
November 9 – “My mother is 88 years old and lives alone. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, my mother was able to handle most of life’s tasks reasonably well. But during these pasts months of Covid-19, due to the isolation and natural aging, my mother experienced significant decline in her ability to express her thoughts and words. Now, with Sherri’s help, my mother is on a much better path, and is able to process and express herself by using the tools Sherri has taught her. Sherri is also a great communicator, and has kept me informed of my mother’s progress every step of the way.” – Email from the daughter of a patient thanking speech language pathologist Sherri Hughes
November 10 – “It makes you feel good when you help others. I’ve been helped by acts of kindness from strangers, that’s why we’re here, after all, to help others.” – Carol Burnett
November 11 – “Whenever and wherever the nation has called, in times of darkness and danger, as well in time of peace and prosperity, America’s veterans have been there. Veterans have proudly carried the torch of liberty for all to see.” – Colin Powell
November 12 – “Life is like a ten-speed bicycle. Some of us have gears we never use.” – Linus
November 16 – “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in him.” – Magic Johnson
November 17 – “A true friend is the one who holds your hand and touches your heart.” – Gabriel García Márquez
November 18 – “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams reality.” – Dr. Jonas Salk
November 19 – “I feel, if in your mind you can do it, you can do it! You cannot doubt yourself, doubt is a killer. You just have to know who you are and what you stand for.” – Jennifer Lopez
November 23 – “I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.” – Tennessee Williams
November 24 – “Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine.” – Whoopi Goldberg
November 25 – “Thanksgiving just gets me all warm and tingly and all kinds of wonderful inside.” – Willard Scott
November 30 – “The six best doctors in the world are one: the Sun— two: Rest— three: Exercise— four: Diet— five: Self Respect— and six: Friends.” – Charlie Chaplin
December 1 – “The two most important dates in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
December 2 – “I promise you that I will do the best I can to achieve our patients’ satisfaction, and help them to return to the community in good health as much as I can, while representing VNSNY.” – An email from Tarek Elsayed, Physical Therapist
December 3 – “Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars.” – Ellen Ochoa
December 7 – “Those who wish to sing always find a song.” – Swedish proverb
December 8 – “It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate, you know someone’s fingers have been all over it.” – Julia Child
December 9 – “And once the storm is over, you wont remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in.” – Haruki Murakami
December 10 – “At this time of year, when the sun is most hidden, the holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the rays of hope and light. Often, is it through simple and unrecognized miracles that we are able to feel the warmth of hope and light.” – Rabbi Rafael Goldstein
December 14 – “The more choices we give patients affected by depression, the better we will treat them.” – Carlos Santana
December 15 – “How YOU doin’?” – Joey Tribbiani
December 16 – “The root of all health is in the brain, the trunk of it is in the motion, the branches and leaves are the body, and the flower of health blooms when all parts work together.” – Kurdish saying
December 17 – “I am able to get up and dust myself off and keep moving forward. I’m very stubborn.” – Rita Moreno
December 18 – “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.” – Wilma Rudolph
December 21 – “While it’s true most vaccines take years to develop, test, and approve for public use, in the case of Covid-19 vaccines, a global effort has meant scientists have been able to work around the clock at record speed to develop vaccines. Thanks to this effort, combined with recent technological advancements in vaccine development, as well as abundant funding, Covid-19 vaccines could be developed much more quickly than past vaccines. Thanks to government support, companies also began manufacturing large quantities of the most promising vaccines before their clinical trials had been completed, so that if they were approved, the vaccines would be ready to use. It’s also important to note that although the Covid-19 vaccines were developed and tested very quickly due to the urgent need for them, they still went through the same rigorous approval and clinical testing process as any other vaccine. There have been no shortcuts on any of that.” – Imperial College of London
December 22 – “That’s the thing about books, they let you travel without moving your feet.” – Jhumpa Lahiri
December 23 – Information on vaccine safety from the World Health Organization
December 24 – “‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” – Clement Clarke Moore
December 28 – “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb
December 29 – Information on wearing a mask after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine from the MAYO Clinic
December 30 – Information on COVID-19 vaccine development from the MAYO Clinic
December 31 – “Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘It will be happier.'” – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
