Where I’m writing from, we’re at the end of the first real week of a fundamental shift. This is the first week of working exclusively remotely and of not having access to toilet paper. The first week of not being able to run out to a restaurant for lunch or catch up on my email in the coffee shop a block away. The first week that virtually every event on my calendar for the next few months was cancelled.
But also, this is the first week of an absolutely beautiful taste of spring. The first week where the Bradford pear trees and southern redbuds are in full bloom and the afternoons are perfect for a walk outside. It’s the first week in a while that wasn’t rainy.
It’s interesting how the collective community of thinking about the effects of the coronavirus is evolving. Just last week, I was inundated by messages from everyone and their brother about how my suppliers, business partners, local restaurants, online subscription companies, and even the garage where I take my car and local store where I buy my espresso are complying with the CDC regulations (or just closing shop!) and making sure their employees and customers are safe.
This week, it’s all about how to cope with working at home with kids on slow internet in virtual meetings and staying sane. I have so many checklists and links to “family resources” and tips and life hacks and ideas for my kids while they’re out of school and virtual exercise programs from, like, everyone that it’s hard to find an actual email about work!
This is also the first week where I’ve started to tune out the news. It’s brutal. I honestly didn’t think anything could dethrone Donald Trump from being “king of the news cycle” but I guess the thought of a global pandemic never really crossed my mind. The overwhelming onslaught of massive amounts of bad news about infection rates, Italy, hoarding, the financial markets, the impact on small, local businesses (like mine and those of many of my friends) and all the other doom and gloom news about how life is fundamentally altered forever is like a “one-two punch” of both content and volume.
So as I go into this weekend, I’m turning off the news, logging off the computer and focusing my mind on all the stuff that I’m thankful for.
- That it’s like the most beautiful week of the year so far and not January when it’s cold, dark and rainy.
- The fact that my family is all together (and actually getting along reasonably well for the time being).
- That we live in an age where technology enables us to work remotely and that I have a job.
- That I can actually video conference on my phone or computer with people, just like Ripley and Burke in Aliens (yea, I’m that old).
- That there’s a convenient park down the street where I can take a walk and it’s really nice.
- That this weekend at least, I’ve got enough food in the house to last for a couple days (and make some tasty meals).
- That I have a really awesome wife.
- That my youngest son, who still asks to go to work with me, is now.
- That I live in a country with some of the best healthcare in the world.
- That coronavirus isn’t like the Black Plague.
- That my favorite coffee shop is still serving lattes and that Italian ciabatta that I really like, even though I can’t eat it there.
- That things like Spotify and Pandora exist.
- That I’m saving a lot of money not eating out and filling my car up with gas (in spite of how cheap it is… Saudi Arabia and Russia, thanks for that, I appreciate it but I’m not so sure the financial markets do).
- That when I go walking around my neighborhood, I’m seeing and talking to people that I haven’t taken the time to see and talk to in way too long.
- That so many people are genuinely nice to one another when we’re all going through the same crap. I should clarify that I did not go to Walmart or Costco last weekend, otherwise this one might not have made the list.
- That thoughtful leaders and countless volunteers in my community have invested in green spaces and parks, and that they’re open for business.
- That we’ve got some really fun games to play as a family (yea, Pandemic is indeed one of them).
- That things like Redbox and Netflix exist.
- That running is a great form of exercise and that the world isn’t closed.
- That I’ve got enough espresso (and milk) to last me about a week.
- That my hope and happiness aren’t based on my 401(k) balance.
I’m finding it really cathartic to be present in the moment, away from screens and mindful of what’s good. All that other stuff will be there whenever I decide to jump back in.