Dear Community,

For those of you following the alphabet of “Soul Primer,” which has appeared in this paper every week for the last six months, here is your last letter: Z is for Zen … .

I hope you have enjoyed these bits of weekly inspiration.

In the spring, when it became clear that COVID-19 would impact us all profoundly, I pondered what I could do to make a difference? My book had just launched, a creation to help each individual – and our world – become a better place, but how to get it out, with bookstores now closed? I had my first (and last!) author talk and book signing at Seaport books.

How would Janna and her wonderful little bookstore survive? The Weekly News editor, Ken Stern, had attended my talk and reviewed my book.

I knew they must be struggling.

It would be so sad to lose another independent, community newspaper.

And so, I cooked up a plan to put an ad in the paper for 26 weeks.

It would give the paper a little ad revenue and, hopefully, give Seaport books and “Soul Primer” a little boost.

2020 has been tough. When things get tough, it is easy to back into a position of self-preservation. However, it is even more important to look out for each other. The health of our community determines so much of our own well-being. We are all interconnected. And so, the question is not, “How can I save money?” (by buying more cheaply at a box store, for example) but rather, “How can I spend money more meaningfully? How can my money not only buy what I need, but also support my community?”

Please, support your local News (buy a subscription!) and your local bookstore (you can call in your order!) and your local businesses and farmers and artists (we work every day for you!) The vaccine promises a light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s join together to continue to keep our community alive.

And as for Z ... Zen is simply a state of mindfulness and awareness. It is the state of wisdom, reflection, balance and understanding that comes from regularly centering ourselves through practicing soul-conscious skills, the type that are found in “Soul Primer.”

I wish the happiest of holidays to each of you, and to our circle of local, national and global communities.

With love,

Cate Schultz

La Conner