Well, I hope this MM finds you well and in good spirits. I know that must sound like a crazy thing to say, but what else can we do? I am going mad as work is cancelled, or postponed, and some of my clients have just gone quiet! My potential earnings, are dropping through the floor and there is nothing much I can do to change that.
The world has gone mad with bulk buying and insane stocking of, so called, essentials. It seems that no-one is thinking rationally and panic has set in. The shops are even taking certain products off the shelves and hiding them behind the counter, or having an employee ‘police’ the distribution.
Since when did you need 40 bottles of cooking oil, a 100+ toilet rolls, 20kg of pasta or 500 paracetamol? It’s madness. I must admit, I did buy a pack of 24 toilet rolls last week when I’d normally buy 6, but I didn’t take all of the packs available, unlike some.
2 of my planned breaks away look like they will both be cancelled, my event in July is also under threat so, it feels like this year could be a survival and consolidation year. I am looking at a better second half of the year, with the business and a I’ll re-arrange (dates only, just in case) some breaks away early next year. That will give me, and the family, something to look forward to.
I am doing everything I can to stay in touch with clients and planning ahead, avoiding May and June but I am also taking advantage of the spare time I have available to me. I am getting over feeling guilty for reading a book, watching a film or even taking a short nap in the afternoon. It’s quite nice!
This will all be over soon and the world will learn lessons, from this, for future events. We will be prepared for the next crisis, which makes us stronger, as a race. The speed at which the air pollution dropped, in some places, was astounding, so maybe there needs to be a fly free space built into the year. At the same time trains and cars could be restricted in their use and a ‘work from home week’ could be enforced.
This COVID-19 could change the way we do things in the future, it could be the best thing to happen for the world and the environment. I appreciate there have been fatalities and my heart goes out to all those families that have lost loved ones. I hope another lesson is that when communities come together we are better human beings and we look after each other. A genuine sense of community sprit is something we have let slip away and it’s an important part of living a great life.
I wish you all a safe week, a happy week and a week where you look after friends, family and neighbours.