At first, the crisis kicked us all into taking drastic and urgent actions to slow the spread of COVID-19. We stayed home, we adjusted our work and businesses, and we listened to the advice of those leading us through this pandemic. We continue to listen, take head and advice. Now, we are seeing testing increase and case numbers beginning to drop, which means that all of these changes we made have meant something. This encourages us. It wasn’t all for nothing. Its been nine weeks. The hidden opportunities we tried to find in all of this are starting to fade. We are are feeling a bit done with it all. We are sick of not being able to spend occasions, like Mother’s Day, with our family. We are tired of only being able to connect with our friends virtually. We are missing the touch that comes along with a hug from extended family or friends. Our children are missing their visits to grandparents, and parents are missing the well needed break. Staying home is losing its appeal and we are feeling the desire to get out and about again. Despite this, we still need time— this positive trend of lower COVID numbers. Although the time has felt long to some and shorter for others, we want to be cautious that this hard work of flattening the curve over the past weeks and months continues. The risks of this hard work being undone quickly by our excitement and angst is real!!
We have to be aware that although our hidden opportunities may be fading, it is best if we still focus on the opportunites and what we may have gained or learned about ourselves and our amazing communities over the last 9 weeks. We have #strong campaigns in most communities. There is a togetherness, a take care of each other and a focus on health and safety that will forever be embraced. There is authentic care and concern for our most vulnerable. There is a sense of calm, and a reconnection with family and home. There has been an incredible flexiblity and an embracing of quick adjustment to these “new world” ways.
I’m sure we have all begun to notice that people are gaining more comfort going out, and are eager to get out of their homes again. The parking lots are starting to fill up, and our towns aren’t feeling quite as quiet anymore.
We tend to be a society that moves fast and stays busy. We are often looking for the quickest, easiest option. When this started, we needed to move quick and make drastic changes, but that doesn’t mean our way out of it will happen as quickly or should happen as quickly. It is hard to resist moving too fast, when so much attention has shifted towards businesses beginning to reopen and planning for the future.
So let’s plan. Let’s get excited about what is to come. But let’s take our time. Planning doesn’t need to mean immediate action. We need to focus on how to safely take steps forward. We need to be thoughtful about the timing of these steps, and the precautions we take, so we don’t regress on this positive momentum. We need to be responsive, not reactive.
As you are shifting your thinking towards how to move forward, try to reflect on what you need versus what you want. Think about what the phrase “the speed of want” means to you. There is nothing we want more than to return to our gatherings with family and friends, head out of town and to get back to some of our old familiar ways. Although we also don’t want to start these things, only to have to go back to the “strict” guidelines, because of a second wave or because we as a community tried to rush to a “new normal.” Even though this is what we want right now, it doesn’t mean that this is what is best. Sometimes the best choice isn’t the easy or fun choice. Patience most often wins out!!
This is hard. It sucks. A LOT! Let’s not forget about the reasons why we made these changes, and what we are learning through this. Life before wasn’t sustainable. We can find small (or big) joy out of the little things in life. We have realized we can find what we want and need at our local businesses and from within our families.
So, let’s persist. Let’s keep this positive momentum going, while getting excited for when we can safely and slowly build our lives into a mix of the old that we miss and need, and a future that is more mindful and intentional.
During these times of ongoing transition be mindful of your feelings and the feelings of others. This past week, we have heard mixed emotions and also felt these mixed emotions ourselves. We are excited. We are feeling a sense of anticipation. We are worried. We are angry. We are confused. We are frustrated. We are feeling scared. We are and need to be cautious. We need to know the world that we knew is no longer, and it will take time to “get to know our new world!”
Consider again the SPEED OF WANT - Let’s continue to work together, and have patience
PATIENCE is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order then the one you have in mind. - David G. Allen
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