As many people know, a fire broke out in the adjacent building to Yurek Pharmacy on December 18th, 2025, destroying apartments and a restaurant and leaving us with smoke and water damage. Staff and customers experienced confusion, fear and uncertainty.
- How would people get their medications?
- What about the staff and their jobs?
- What would happen to the pharmacy?
In times of trouble or when facing adversity, it is resilience which allows us to bounce back and not fall apart. Resilience is not developed in a single event. It is an ongoing process during which we experience emotional pain and distress. The American Psychological Association has offered some strategies for building resilience. The process is an individualized one, so while a certain strategy may work well for one person, another prefers a different strategy.
Build good healthy relationships. When the news spread, I was blessed to have support from local doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. This social network offered both moral support and their services during the transition.
Do not see the situation as unbearable. While it was painful, I kept reminding myself that no one was seriously hurt and that what we were experiencing was temporary and we would be ok eventually.
Accept circumstances that cannot be changed. As I like to say, “Don’t sweat the petty things- and don’t pet the sweaty things.” Decide what we can control and work on that.
Take care of yourself; be aware of your physical and mental needs. Stay well fed, hydrated, and rested. Physical activity is also important for both mind and body.
Take charge; act on things that you can. Avoiding problems rarely makes them go away and looming issues can lead to stress and anxiety.
Keep a long-term perspective. Life is a marathon; not a 100-meter dash. Looking at a stressful event in a broader context can give better perspective.
Maintain a healthy outlook. When things bring me down and when I go home smelling like kielbasa and I’m frustrated that we can’t provide all the services we used to, I remind myself that in a few months, I will be working out of a newly built pharmacy which will be better suited and modern.
So, while all these suggestions may not help everyone, by employing some of them, we can enhance our resilience and deal with adversity. Take care of yourselves and each other.
By Steve Bond, BSc. Phm.
