Every Little Thing, Is Gonna Be Alright

At my house it’s Day 4 of no school, no activities, no events, and no sports. It’s interesting but we’re keeping busy for now. The weather is good and there are great parks nearby, so we’ve made a point to get out and enjoy nature as much as possible. 

It has dawned on me this week that I’ve actually wished for this at one time or another; that the whole world would slow down and we weren’t constantly rushing from thing to thing. It was a pipe dream. A wild fantasy. And now that it’s actually happening, it’s clear that it was nice only in theory - like the Jeep pickup truck. Just like that Jeep, the reality of halting life as we know it is disconcerting and decidedly ugly. 

Everyone will have different experiences during this global pandemic, to be sure. And maybe we'll find that navigating these times will mean moving through various stages - as in labor, grief, or sleep - each in their own ways and in their own time. For me, a few things have come up so far:

1. The only thing I can control is myself. My actions, my attitude, my inputs... 
2. Complaining, though sometimes fun, is toxic.
3. The news is a hole. A black hole. A rabbit hole. A sinkhole. A shi%hole. A daily check in or two is really all I should do. 
4. People and companies everywhere are showing up with creative and inspiring ideas/offerings to help society cope with/adjust to life as we now know it.

Even if you’re not quite ready for the “silver lining” stage of this pandemic, it’s possible to shift your focus toward some of the more positive things happening among us. Here’s a quick list of some of the best contributions from companies I follow that you might not have seen yet:

For Nonprofits 

• This free (through June 30, 2020) online fundraising suite from GiveGab: Boost Fundraising Suite
• This turnkey crisis communications plan: Crisis Communication Prep
• Windmill Hill Consulting created a list of resources and pro bono offers here: https://www.whillconsulting.com/covid19-resources
• The NonProfit Times is hosting a free webinar today at 2pm EST on Health, Fundraising, and Risk Assessment. Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2486388721588655371  Past Event
• This guide to working remotely: https://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/2020/03/13/remote-working-for-nonprofits 

For Businesses

• Andrea Hill, business development expert, is offering free “office hours” for business advice during challenging times: http://werx.world/index.php?view=article&id=14&catid=2 
• This LinkedIn post about marketing during a crisis: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/krisruby_coronavirus-marketing-media-activity-6642850891391131648-OhYW
• 360 Live Media’s guide to virtual event design: Virtual Event Experience Design

For Self

• 6 Spiritual Tools to Calm Coronavirus Anxiety Now - Gabby Bernstein
• The 3-2-1 Newsletter - James Clear 
• It Could Be Now  - Yoga with Adriene
• These Trainers and Studios Are Giving Away Free Classes Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic - Free online workouts compiled by Shape magazine
• This IG post on focus and meaning - Tony Robbins

When all else fails, I turn to the Best of Bob Marley station on Spotify and I'm instantly transported to my happy place: on a beach with a book (OABWAB). Come on in, the water's fine.