During this long winter, did you envision a day when the weather would warm, the vaccine would spread, and we would breathe more deeply again? We could gather safely with treasured people and even hug after being fully vaccinated. Then we'd close this difficult, year-long chapter and move on… 

But reality is painting a different picture. The “normal” we seek has forever changed. We can’t just pick up where we left off. 

Everyone suffered this past year. Many lost someone to Covid. We all experienced challenging, soul-searching moments in isolation while missing physical contact, community, and anticipated events. Some of us lost jobs, businesses or financial stability. Some bore the life-threatening stress of caring for others with Covid. We all watched in horror as the California wildfires raged, the Capitol was sieged, and George Floyd was killed. Everyone lived through bitterly divided elections and feared an invisible virus. 

The New York Times recently published a collection of anecdotes entitled “Who Are We Now" and an Opinion piece by David Brooks called “How Covid Can Change Your Personality.” Has Covid soul-searching also brought you to a new place? 

In More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us, Rabbi Steve Leder counsels us to confront our losses and pain head-on. Beyond simple, shiny sentiments, we can find our way through trials with introspection, resilience, community, patience, and full-on grief. 

Realizing I had become accustomed to crossing streets to avoid oncoming walkers, I pondered the long-term effects of masks, isolation, and such knee-jerk, “anti-social” actions. I began writing “Let Us Not Close Our Hearts”. Here's a solo version from the hallway of the Weights and Measures studio in Kansas City.

As we gradually make our way into a life after this pandemic, let’s “see our strength, trust our ties” and hold onto ways we have been transformed. 

I look forward to singing with you. 

Love, 

Joy 

P.S. “Let Us Not Close Our Hearts” will be on my new album scheduled for a 2021 release.

Joy Zimmerman, a soulful singer/songwriter, dives into the everyday and the extraordinary. Known for compelling vocals and captivating performances, Joy is a touring musician based in Kansas City. Her forthcoming album, The Canvas Before Us, is an acoustic reinvention and her seventh studio album. joyzimmermanmusic.com