I have not posted on Instagram or social media in over two weeks. To be honest, I did not know what to say. I have been scared, stressed and worried for everyone. I was saying to a friend yesterday I was not sure how I felt about posting. Do I post photos of past couples in love and enjoying their day to bring happiness to my followers? Or is that insensitive to my couples and followers now facing postponements and stress? Do I share uplifting messages from people sharing the most positive things? Or does that make me look like I am avoiding the obvious that it is tough and bleak right now?
I have friends who have within a week lost jobs, been laid off in-definitely, had friends whose clients have cancelled multiple events and friends working to come up with creative ways to keep revenue coming in so they can pay their staff of establishments that have been in business for over over 75 years. I have had clients need to postpone their weddings this spring which has been hard on them and their families. My friend and amazing DJ Megan Taylor and I had a long talk about doing posts on social right now and the thoughts behind it. I did not want to post and just wanted to stay silent. But, I really can’t because I do have something to share and do have so many feelings around what is happening. And I think back to the word I picked for the year, Fearless. Now that does not mean I am not fearful, I am, very much so.
I left the United States 3 weeks ago and left a totally different country (and world) than I came home to. The world is changing moment by moment. I find myself waking up and scared to pick up my ipad or turn on the tv to see what the next scary news announcement is. But I need to be fearless and write down what I am feeling with you (or just myself to one day look back on in my 80s) and see how I was feeling on this day in 2020.
I have seen a lot since I have been on this earth and one recurring thing I have seen is resilience. Humans are resilient! I remember in the 70’s as a little girl (yup, here I go dating myself) waiting in line with my parents for them to get gas on the day we were allowed to buy it. I remember waking up on the 11th of September, turning on the tv and seeing the second plane hit the twin towers live and life and business changed in an instant. I remember the financial crisis in 2008 and how it affected my business, my loved-one’s careers and everyone around me. I remember the booms and the crashes. But what I remember the most is that we made it out of it! We kept going and kept working hard and we shifted and changed and moved forward! And I am here to say that we will make it thru this hard time.
At the core of who I am, I am optimistic. I try to stay positive even though some days I am stopped by fear of what could happen next in this situation and feel so much compassion for those around me that I cry. We are all affected by this. No one does not feel the hurt that we all feel for everyone around the world. It is so scary. But I will remain optimistic. I just have to. And we will come out of this and we will get thru this! And we will do it together!
So as Cindy Novotony told us yesterday on a call with the event community (thank you Engage Summits for arranging) be ready to come out with a gusto and come out fighting and remain positive! While 2020 is not the year I had planned on in January when I was setting my business and personal goals I will adjust, pivot, be creative and help others and treat everyone with love and compassion and kindness.
I share this beautiful photo that Carla Ten Eyck took of my in 2016. It was a great year for my business, and there I was surrounded by friends at The Breakers and singing the song that I know that I will refer back to this year a lot! “525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life? How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.”
If you want to talk, laugh, cry or just have a virtual dance party with me I am here. I am here to talk. But above all, I am here to listen! We are all in this together and community and communication is so important right now. So please email me or DM me if you want to have someone listen or bounce ideas off of or just talk.