I’m pretty sure that someone famous once said “this too shall pass”... and it will.
When it does, what are you looking forward to? Take a moment now to think about two or three things that come to mind…just let them bubble up. I’m guessing that they will probably be pretty simple things. Just notice what came to mind for you.
I have been asking around, doing an unscientific study. I asked approximately 40 people (maybe you were one of them?) to tell me the two or three things they are looking forward to when we begin our new "normal" after the dust settles. Hands down, the number one answer that people say they are looking forward to?
HUGS.
Hugs from friends, family and partners that they have been physically separated from for the past while.
HUGS.
What else came up for people?
"Seeing friends" whether it is for a coffee date, a pint, a glass of wine or a backyard gathering - actually being with people.
"Freedom" to make plans. Whether they are for travel, concerts , to go to the local playground with their kids, or just to be able to drop into the local grocery store without a mask and gloves.
"Getting back to routine" going to the gym, giving in person training, participating in clubs etc. that they used to participate in.
And for my healthcare professional friends? Not being afraid to go to work. Take that in.
How telling are these responses? What really IS important?
We have been given a chance to pause, reflect and then hit the reset button. This is not a “do over” it is a reset, a chance to “start over” on a clean page.
This is where the opportunity is, the pause. Notice. What are you learning as an individual and what are we collectively learning?
Reflect. What is really important to us vs. what we may have thought was really important before? This is our opportunity now. We have all been forced to adapt, make adjustments. Ask yourself: what temporary changes have I made that will become permanent? What do I want to continue doing moving forward? How can I remember these lessons when I am back in the thick of things again?
Reset. How do we want to navigate moving forward? One thing I am thinking is that there will be no "back to normal". We now have a chance to create our "new normal". How can we capitalize on this opportunity? What can we make better?
That's a whole lot of thinking to do. In the meantime - what are you looking forward to when this is over?
Stay well.
