Making Change

I've never backed down from change. I've always viewed it as a necessity to move forward in my career and personal life. What did those 90s shirts read - NO FEAR? Yeah, that's it. Go to a different college than my friends? Okie dokie. Blond hair? Sure. Move? Let's go! Change of plans? No problem. Take a new job as a creative director? You betcha. Grow our family? Enter Graham.

But nothing, and I mean nothing could have prepared us for the COVID-19 pandemic, with small children. (Emphasis on the last three words there.)

A virus that started in China in December of 2019, tore through Italy and has dropped our country to its knees. As of today, we are 30 days into quarantine. There are 1,905,935 global cases, nearly 120k deaths and it has shut down schools, daycares, office buildings and NYC. No small feat. 

Loss is all around us. Jobs, lives, routines, freedoms. 

Nope. We aren't dealing with a run-of-the-mill work-from-home situation or a simple inconvenience. Life did a painful belly flop in the shallow end. It has you rethinking even the most automatic responses like over-evaluating if a serious injury is "serious enough" to call 911 or visit the ER to risk exposure to the virus. And that, my friends, is a big damned deal.

People have transformed into a mix of educators, stay-at-home parents, house keepers, full-time employees tethered to Zoom conferences, counselors, AND fitness instructors. We don't run to the grocery store to grab something we need, we wait a week for groceries to be delivered and spend an hour sanitizing each piece. Facebook is filled with stories from the front lines, hope and humor. Unemployment is high, stock markets and gas prices are low. Masks are everywhere - and homemade ones are the modern day friendship bracelet. Haircuts are ill-performed by mothers in bathrooms and Easter service was via Facebook live.

Imagination Station

Easter 2020 - Family

Home Economics

And there is unbalance on this teeter-totter of mental and physical health. Playgrounds and gyms are shut tight and neighborhood pathways are filled. Some are choosing to pretend the global emergency is not happening or worse will not happen to them because they are somehow "healthier/smarter" than those other people who got sick. Political arguments have soared and ludicrous conspiracy theories have taken logic out of thinking. Some are locking themselves inside and sinking in fear. Some are just trying put on their waders and define their new normal.

NWA Severe Storms Conference 2020 Operations Center

That is me; waste deep in crud, choosing the safety of my family and community over normalcy. Daily sucking at my new career in this shifting environment. Trying to be it all and falling short.

There is no doubt this change bites a big one, but it is also a blessing. Truth be told, time has slowed down and when kids are small, it's time you will never get again. I'm am finding a way to embrace it all. Embrace this change. Embrace the suck. Embrace my family. Embrace all that needs to be taught and learned. Embrace the imperfection. We are filling uncertainties with giving, love and hope. We are checking on our friends, sending love around the globe and looking inward for peace. 

Zoom Yoga FTW

We are going to make it through this change. 

And, when this is all said and done, and we are comfortably enveloped in our new normal - I don't want to remember the first half of this blog post and how this is the most difficult change-challenge I have ever accepted, I want to remember the last half. The stories of love, survival, togetherness, support, and empowerment. The memories we continue to make. 

I know it's not easy but we will be okay.

Sending love and health to each of you! 

End of School Day Fun

Milestone: First Run in the Books