Today is Monday, April 27, 2020, which would have been our first full day together in Albuquerque, New Mexico for our CEO-Focused Summit. I was feeling sentimental over the weekend – grieving for what might have been.
View the photos from the Atlanta conference
But I awoke today in Winter Park, FL to what I consider to be THE perfect morning. Low 60’s, sunny blue skies, low humidity, a gentle breeze and birds singing. Beautiful and peaceful. I drank my Nespresso coffee while sitting on my back patio, watched the squirrels eating a few seeds that fell from the birdfeeder in the backyard and gave thanks for the opportunity to slow down and breathe. Inhale – exhale. I can hear my Pilates instructor’s voice in my head: breathe in through your nose . . . and out through your mouth. . . (I miss her too.)
There has not been enough of these moments during work hours over the last few weeks – we have been busier than ever. But the mornings and evenings – and the weekends – have been lovely. Lovelier than usual. Until recently, some of that was lost on me because I was preoccupied with worrying about things that have not yet happened.
I have always been a purpose-filled person and for me that meant being fixed on the future – what comes next. What do I need to be doing to assure that next thing happens? I like to be in control – or feel like I was. And anxiety for me came primarily from feeling I had lost that control. So admittedly, I have been anxious for months.
This pandemic experience has removed much of that control I used to think I had. I am reminded that the only thing I really have control over are my thoughts, words and actions. And it is much more difficult to predict the future in the current economy. So, what can I do?
First, I can breathe; express and feel grateful for the many things that are genuinely good in my life. Secondly, I can trade fear for curiosity and get excited about doing things differently. Many of the things we are doing now out of necessity are ideas we explored and discussed over many years but may never have moved forward – until we had no other choice. I actually like change – there are so many opportunities for that right now. Thirdly, I can choose to remain positive and help my colleagues, friends and family do the same. We will survive. We have the ability to figure all of this out. I know we will.
Breathe in through your nose – long and deep – and out through your mouth. And next year, in Albuquerque!