These Holidays Are Different: But Let's Make Them Meaningful

Many of us around the country are concluding our Easter celebrations or are in the midst of Passover. These will have been unique celebrations, with far fewer faces around the table. But we hope you kept traditions alive and have connected with your family and loved ones who couldn’t be there in person. Maybe you extended a few “virtual hugs”, like I did with my grandchildren.

 Last week, I suggested we use this Holy Week to renew our faith, our relationships, and our commitment to our values. It’s important that we keep close to these sentiments as we face more weeks of social distancing and disrupted communications.

Traditions old and new

I have been inspired by the kinds of activities people have been able to continue online, and the new digital rituals that have emerged. At our house, my wife, Marylou, always paints Easter eggs with our grandchildren. Obviously, that was not an option for this year. But we did manage to paint alongside our grandchildren on video chat. My friend, the author and entrepreneur Dave Kerpen, convened a digital Seder and kindly extended me an invitation.

We have a choice, to submit to the disappointment or to be agile and adapt our traditions to preserve our memories and those of our families. How have you been able to keep your traditions alive?

What comes next

Over the holidays, we’ve reflected on the truly important people in our lives. Let’s use these next weeks to deepen those connections. If you find yourself under the same roof as older generations, take the time to ask for stories from their pasts. I’m sure you will be moved, surprised, and delighted by the stories you hear. Don’t be afraid to express your feelings and uncertainties on those phone or Facetime calls. Speaking from the heart may inspire your friend or relative to do the same. Stay focused on those traditions and people that matter, and you’ll emerge from this time with deeper, more meaningful relationships than before.

Be prepared for a new normal, even when the worst of the crisis passes. During a Techonomy digital roundtable last week, Sir Martin Sorrell of S4 Capital said he expected a few things. He will be a lot more reluctant to jump back on a plane. He thinks the work from home/office mix will change and that the rush to digitization will move to warp speed. I expect we will all adjust, slowly, in our own ways. But let’s make sure to use that transition to prioritize. Keep focused on what’s important before jumping back into old routines.

Concluding this Holy Week, one of renewal, think about how we spend our time: work, family, friends and community. It’s a tougher question than we may have thought a month ago.