Helen Lee Schifter has been a frequent guest on the social circuit over the last few decades at a myriad of various society events. As a former arbitrage trader on Wall Street, and someone with a storied career in journalism – at both Conde Nast and Hearst, Schifter is regularly invited to such events.
There is no question that the situation with the Coronavirus pandemic has created a serious dent in the overall live-event and event management business. What is most jarring is the staff members on payroll at so many of these companies that live paycheck to paycheck, and are now without any work whatsoever.
Helen Lee Schifter in Elle Decor has been chronicled for her design acumen – in particular, the ways she employs interior design to ensure an aesthetically pleasing environment. She has spend considerable time doing so in an effort to be able to entertain guests in a way that is formidable and respectable.
The idea of hosting individual guests at one’s residence is something that should be universally accepted. No matter the person’s age, background, ethnicity or social strata they may come from, it is an opportunity to network and to socially engage with one another. It also allows people the opportunity to foster a level of camaraderie that is otherwise nonexistent.
Especially during challenging times when it is especially difficult to feel connected to one another; playing host to different people and to their eclectic tastes is something that can prove very valuable. It also helps people with their mental and emotional health. Though the pandemic has spurred a lot of conversation about people’s physical health; what has been covered considerably less, is the impact it has had on our mental health and sanity.
The reality is that the social distancing guidelines that have been in place are not necessarily amenable to a healthy emotional and social lifestyle. The ability to engage socially; see friends and acquaintances, is no longer as tenable. Although there are certainly technological devices that allow for substituting for this purpose, it is still not nearly adequate. And whatever one says about Zoom, Facetime or any of the other available technologies at people’s disposal, the reality is that meeting face to face offers people an opportunity that is unique and unparalleled.
In lieu of this opportunity, which is now a thing of the past, being able to engage through technology can still be an experience that is pleasant; depending on the way it is navigated and gone about. There are all sorts of different ways people have been able to use these technological tools in exciting ways that engender interest on the part of users and the general public. Whether that be formulating an exciting backdrop; or a screensaver that is especially intriguing to the objective eye. But in the end, it still does not fill in the void of being able to interact with someone face to face, and in person.
That is an unfortunate reality; and it does not seem that anytime soon, it will change. While Helen Lee Schifter has written about the need for us to be cautious during these perilous times, Schifter has also emphasized the need to balance our caution with our mental and emotional health.
As the second wave of the Coronavirus seems to be peaking out, we must continue and persist in exercising caution. Adorning face-masks is certainly a part of that process. We need to be in compliance with all the guidelines that our national, state and local leaders have put into place. But we must also not lose sight of the value of a social interaction. One that is face to face. For as we consider our physical health; we must also never neglect our emotional and mental health. That’s the moral of the story. Surviving this pandemic physically is one thing. Surviving it mentally is an entirely different story.