Have you ever used a Post-It note? You know those little colourful squares that you can write on and stick anywhere? One of man’s greatest inventions.
If you’re like me you’ve used these little stickies as reminders to yourself or others, placed them along pages in a file folder, written little instructions and stuck them on the fridge for your children. Or perhaps you’ve received a little love note from your husband stuck to the gear shift in the car. Maybe you’ve stuck one for yourself on the bathroom mirror as a form of motivation or a reminder to stay with your goals.
Post-It notes are prolific and diverse. But one use of them recently was gratifyingly beautiful.
I have always felt blessed to live in Niagara. Having moved to this beautiful region over two decades ago, I count my blessing every single day.
This beautiful region has so much to offer and is home to all the things we seek around the world. It houses incredible people, natural wonders, world renowned wineries, the exquisite bounty of nature, excellent educational institutions, and I learned recently, an outstanding health system in Niagara Health.
As vaccines are thankfully becoming more prevalent due to the increased supply in Canada, I took my turn to attend the Hannah Seymour Arena in St. Catharines to get my shot. And what a wonderful experience it was.
The entire process moved so quickly and efficiently it was astounding. Frontline workers who attended to all the vaccine recipients moved precisely, but with such joy and friendliness it elevated the experience.
After you get your shot, you are to sit for fifteen minutes to ensure there are no bad reactions and you are given some papers to read along with a sticky note and pen. You can use this Post-It note to write a note to the workers here and stick them on the walls.
Let me tell you that the gratitude is palpable in the air and there are thousands of these colourful little squares covering the walls of the arena. All are filled with various forms of gratitude to the men and women who have made this happen for all of us. Some are funny, some just offer a thank you with a smiley face, others a whole paragraph of gratitude. What a fantastic idea Niagara Health!

Of course, I wrote mine. I am so grateful for having my shot and being tended to by the incredible men and women of Niagara Health. Thank you!
I know we, everywhere around the world, are all grateful to receive our shots. It means that the pandemic will soon be behind us and more freedoms will open up to us. This means more travel, more winery visits, and more enjoying all the joyful natural wonders of our world.
I can’t wait. How about you?
I hope you are all well and are on the road towards freedom also. If you were to write a Post-It note what would yours say? Here’s mine.

So blessed to see your perspective on both these thing : the way you count your blessings in life….living on Niagara…it’s simply like heaven on earth, and what you shared on this beautiful unique practice of celebrating our gratitude towards our frontline warriors 🎊❤
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Thanks very much for appreciating my words and thoughts Roshni.
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Love this idea, Shelley, it must lift the spirit as well as brightening the centre.
Here in France I’ve just had my second shot but, because of the stupidity of Brexit and the pathetic squabbling between Macron and Johnson, I still can’t visit Scotland without 2 tests and a 10-day quarantine.
Socially-distanced hugs to you!
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I know exactly what you mean CE. We’ve got our own bevy of political idiots here too. Their usual reactionary approach to crisis management means many have suffered more than they should have. Let’s hope for a brighter future, where travel can once again be normalized without the added hoopla. Very nice to hear from you CE. Virtual hugs to you too!
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That’s a lovely touch with the post its. 🙂 🙂 Ours was a bit of a laborious process but the workers were unfailingly cheerful and got the job done with a smile. I can’t be anything but grateful. Even though I didn’t especially want the vaccine, it was a necessary step towards being able to see my youngsters and travel to the UK this summer.
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I agree, a necessary step towards freedom. And I too am grateful for all involved in making it happen for all of us. Thanks for reading Jo!
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🤗💕
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I’ve used post-it notes a lot on my work in the past (they’re perfect for capturing ideas in brainstorming sessions, for instance) but this is a particularly great use of them – I love it! The vaccinations have been going well in the UK too and everyone who gets one praises the way it is being organised and all the people involved in the programme, but I don’t think anywhere has come up with a system for capturing the gratitude like this.
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So many are filled with gratitude and it is great to hear how things are going in other parts of the world. Glad it’s going well in the UK. You guys are well ahead of us. I’m certain you can’t wait to travel.
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Absolutely I can’t wait, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty about that at present 😦
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I agree, that’s very true. We all keep hoping and keeping our fingers crossed. Stay well.
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I’m not in the Niagara Region at present but my experience was very similiar. I was so impressed with the people participating in the vaccination process. I was compelled to tell them at each station along the process that they were amazing and how grateful I was. Believe me, I wanted to hug each and every one of them. (Protocols won) They didn’t give us post it notes but I may bring my own when I go for the second jab.
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That’s a great idea. I completely understand how you feel. There were so many people there filled with gratitude.
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I love this idea! Offering recipients of the live-saving vaccine a way to express their appreciation to those helping them – genius! I felt compelled to tell the pharmacist who gave me both shots how happy I was to receive them, but I’m sure a more visceral and concrete show of appreciation, like these Post-it notes, is more meaningful to those helping keep us safe and healthy. Thank you for sharing what your community is doing!
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Thanks for reading and appreciating Rebecca. It is a great show of support as well a fantastic way for us to express the sometimes overwhelming emotions when receiving a shot that will, I believe, change the trajectory of this pandemic. Thanks again for your visit! Perhaps one day in person.
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I’m writing something similar about our experience here in the U.K., a couple of posts each week with #5 telling a very special story. Post It notes always made us laugh in the early 1990s as we imagined an innovation meeting at the company with brainstorming. The chosen best idea after the yellow stickies? “How about a pink one ….. yippee”! But they are great little things.
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That sounds like a great way to document the work done by so many and the gratitude felt. I’ll look forward to your posts.
And yes, love Post It notes. Have used them for so many reasons and this was the best one yet.
Thanks for reading and for your comment Dr. B!
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