MY CUTE HUSBAND AND I LOVE LIVE MUSIC . We ’ ve even been known to coordinate our vacations to support our favorite bands . Of course , for the last year , there have been no tours , no shows , no encores . It ’ s easy to feel disappointed to have missed out on something we enjoy so much . But I recently heard something that really resonated with me — one of our favorite musicians wrote more than 100 new songs in 2020 because he was not on tour and had the chance to pause and create . Hearing that story , I cannot help but think about all the amazing books that will be written , paintings that will be painted , recipes that will be created and on and on as so many artists have had the time to create and do what they love to do .

I guess the story about the musician shouldn ’ t have surprised me . After all , I ’ ve seen something similar happen within the ISPA community and around our industry — creative people taking advantage of this enormous disruption to pour themselves even more

into what they know and love . ISPA has done the same , working to bring the industry together in inventive ways to offer support and develop resources to help chart the way forward . We ’ ve talked a lot about silver linings over the past year . In fact , we ’ ve talked about them so much — on town halls and Zoom calls and in the pages of Pulse — that you might be tired of hearing the phrase . At times , it may have even been difficult to believe that there are actually any silver linings to be found among the devastation that has often seemed to greet us at every turn — including the devastation in our own industry . But that ’ s exactly why we ’ ve spent so much time seeking out those consoling , hopeful prospects . Although this has been a hard year , the spa industry has proven to be resilient , and that resilience in itself is an inspiration , a silver lining . Life as we know it may have shifted , but I , for one , am excited about the countless possibilities and new adventures that await us behind the clouds . ■

— LYNNE MCNEES , ISPA PRESIDENT

MARK YOUR CALENDARS — the ISPA Board application will open on October 1 , 2021 . While the timing of the application has shifted within ISPA ’ s annual schedule , the process will remain the same . We look forward to any interested member putting forward their name this fall . To learn more , visit experienceispa . com / about / volunteer-leadership .

CONNECT WITH ME ON FACEBOOK ! Lynne Walker McNees

64 PULSE ^■ APRIL 2021