Tips & Tricks for How We’ll Survive This

This isn’t a post about tools or techniques for virtual events.

This isn’t a post about how to keep your attendees engaged.

This isn’t a post about creating virtual sponsorships.

This is a post for me. A post for us. A moment to breathe.

This morning I was looking out the window and I was struck by how beautiful the early morning light looked coming through the new tree leaves.

Then I was struck by how I hadn’t noticed this until today.

Spring is my favorite time of year, and because it is so short, I try to be very mindful about the blossoming trees and the scents and the sunshine. But I almost missed it this year.

It was a moment that woke me back up to this situation that is just so strange for us.

And, for that moment, I lost my breath. I had to sit down. I felt helpless, and small, and a little bit lost.

And then, I said, “screw it” and had a dance party with my dogs in the kitchen.

And that is how we are going to get through this.

It’s one hundred moments of not knowing what to do, with one hundred more of feeling we finally know the way, and one hundred more of something slightly ridiculous.

It’s waving at people, because we can’t smile with a mask on.

It’s staying busy, but also being present in small moments.

It’s knowing that the only certain thing right now is that so much is unknown.

And also, that this is temporary. It’s a long temporary, and it’s hard to see the end, but it is temporary.

I think that we have to fully embrace the weirdness and toughness of this moment. I think we have to be easy on our minds and hard on our motivation. I find myself slipping on the tools that keep me healthy – my exercise, my meditation, my nutrition.

At the same time, I’m building new coping muscle. I’ve created a game for myself. I have so many inside jokes with my friends and I try to slip the phrases into my daily conversations. Each time I do, it makes me smile internally and I give myself a point.

I give myself a point for getting out of bed on time in the morning. I give myself a point for eating something green. I give myself a point for attending my virtual gym. I give myself a point for taking a night off to read a book. I give myself a point for every time I’m helpful to someone else.

I give myself a point for making it through the day without crying. I give myself a point for when I let myself cry if I need to. I give myself a point for being honest about when I need help.

I give myself a point for making my wife laugh. I give myself a point for taking the time to listen to one of my team members. I give myself a point for taking a walk. I give myself a point for taking the time to sharpen my skills.

I give myself a point for not giving up.

The point isn’t the points – it is trying my best to be aware of what I need, and what others need.

That’s how we survive. By doing our best to be at our best, and by being there for others when they are at their worst.

I’m sure I have many more dog dance parties ahead of me.

I’m not going to let this steal my spring.