Along with the rest of the world, I am trying to navigate the volatile and murky waters of this pandemic. Just when I think I’ve found a groove, something else comes up that makes the situation heavier, more personal: a too close for comfort encounter with a woman not covering her mouth while coughing at the grocery, my husband’s company announcing furloughs are coming and the waiting to learn if it includes him, a friend sharing she lost her uncle to the virus.
Everyone I talk to (from a safe social distance) has their own stories just like mine. Loved ones and friends struggling with anxiety, cancelled medical appointments, kids who don’t understand. My offers of virtual hugs to people I care about feel flimsy, not enough. It feels helpless to not be able to do more. At the same time, having these conversations has helped me see how we’re not alone. We’re all in this together.
I have wondered how to move forward with business and life. What seemed important a few weeks ago looks totally different today. But I know that giving into the heaviness and beating myself up for not being able to solve all the problems doesn’t really help.
Reminder to self: staying home helps. Checking in on people helps.
So I will keep at it, reaching out to my people and offering a sense of connection where I can. The digital connections I am having right now feel more meaningful than ever. A sample of exchanges giving me so much life right now:
My friend Emma suggested we schedule a walking chat, where we each took a walk in our respective neighborhoods while talking on the phone.
My knitting group met via FaceTime instead of in-person, and we actually got to include our out-of-town friend.
Another friend suggested we continue on with our card night tradition, so we ate dinner, caught up, and played trivia via Google Hangout.
My running group has a virtual relay going, and we’ve logged more than 100 miles.
Just when I thought I probably wouldn’t get any new leads or business opportunities until this all blows over, I had a sales call yesterday via Zoom.
Today, I’ll try remotely facilitating an ideation session for the first time. It won’t be perfect, but I’m so looking forward to creative collaboration with this group.
I used to think making comments, giving stars or hearts and the like were so surface, and I guess sometimes they are. But right now, it feels more essential, and I’m putting more energy into phone calls and social media exchanges. Maybe it wasn’t the technology all along, but how I scrolled through so lightly, without commitment.
Crisis situations have an uncanny way of highlighting what brings joy, what we can’t live without. I can’t help but believe at the other end of this pandemic, people will be more creative in how they use technology to stay connected. Businesses who survive this will be more adaptive and flexible because we’re all getting a crash course in how to redesign our operations overnight. Generally, I stay positive, find silver linings, and I guess this is my innate wiring at work.
Yes, there is more suffering and unknown territory ahead. But we’re also seeing the best in humanity: incredibly brave healthcare workers on the front lines, creatives sewing masks, chefs and school bus drivers feeding people—so many selfless acts of support. I do believe as long as people look out for one another, there is hope.