WE'VE CHANGED
March 14, 2020 is a day to be remembered—as it now is marked in history as the last day of our old life. It was the final day when the mundane was taken for granted: touching elevator buttons, opening doorknobs with confidence, hugging friends and loved ones freely. Since then, so much has happened, and ironically, so little has happened to curtail the effects of an unprecedented viral spread that crippled global economies. The pandemic has done so many things, ranging from the shutting down of small to large businesses, movement restrictions and the taking of nearly 1 million lives as of this writing.
Yes, we’ve changed. Have you accepted that we will never be the same again?
Full disclosure: I’ve been a spectator over the last few months. I’m not tone deaf. I don’t turn a blind eye. And I check my privilege every single day. While I have a decent following on social media, I opted to show compassion quietly. These days social media has become a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” setting and I fully understand why. While I don’t agree with everything that has been said and the little that has been done, I laud people who stood up to be heard. I rooted for people who left the confines of their home to hand over a bag of supplies to those that have lost their jobs or those who are fighting for their lives.
I also admire those who worked silently.
I show disgust, however, to those who spoke lies and those who moved only for personal gain. These people are canceled to me.
What I found most effective for me was being a silent observer. I wanted to understand the plight of others, and if I had the muscle, I lent a helping hand. I began a change, a shift in my mindset when I realized I couldn’t help everyone in the same way that large companies or wealthier or more influential individuals can. I started in my small circle and assured that my staff and hired help will continue to receive their wages even if I registered smaller profits in 2020. I was okay with that. When that stabilized, I grew my circumference so that I could reach more people. I bought from restaurants, suppliers, and startups; I even established a small boulangerie, Farine, just to keep the cycle going. While essentials were of the essence, I quickly realized that people who created non-essentials needed help, too. I bought from designers because they needed help. It wasn’t just a newly purchased shirt—it was a shirt that made me feel like my old self even for just a moment. And it felt good.
While observing, I took in more than I expected. I learned that in times of crisis, it is necessary to pivot. It is important to change strategy. It is okay to shift business models or even change your business entirely. Is it painful and difficult? Of course it is, but it is what is essential. Do you remember how Christian Dior became a successful fashion house after he shortened the length of dresses due to a shortage in fabric after World War II? Getting creative is a major learning during a pandemic. You see, when you talk so much and type so much instead of move, your time is used up and you don’t have a front seat to the entire picture. You become consumed by the negativity around you that you become more toxic instead of your original goal of being an inspiration.
Change is terrifying. You’ve set out dreams and goals, a plan B and even a plan E, and suddenly, you are thrown the biggest curve ball of your life that no one could have ever predicted.
One of the many things COVID-19 has done is it killed our spirit. And just like any death that you’ve experienced, what is necessary today is mustering up the courage and will to carry on. The loss of a loved one, revenue that you once enjoyed or even the freedom to walk around with no care is painful and will be missed, but we are left with no choice but to make a better change. We must adjust and find new meaning and joy to life, because right now you are still breathing.