How to Be Adaptable during a Pandemic

My graduation from business school was this morning. I watched it virtually with my daughter as the rest of the house slept. We wore pajamas and we paused the pre-recorded announcement to take a screenshot, a slide I was asked to create with a photo and a personal message of less than 150 words. And just like that, I graduated.

20 straight months. A cancelled international residency finale trip. Blood, sweat, tears and well over $100,000 spent culminated with a slide and 1.5 second announcement of my name. No hugs from my cohort after we went to war together. No real celebration with family or friends. My classmates and I exchanged What'sApp messages during the terribly anti-climactic ceremony. I traded texts and phone calls with my incredibly supportive parents. My best friends congratulated me. And it's over.

We accomplished this together. That, to me, formed an unbreakable bond and nothing, not even a pandemic, can take that away from us.

That's one way to look at things. But it's a PANDEMIC. COVID-19 is still taking lives. So let's back up a minute and straighten ourselves out. What made me realize I was adaptable?

My grit.

Yes, all of the above occurred. I worked my butt off and it was the most anti-climactic ending of all time. BUT: I learned so much. Of course, data analysis, statistics, integrated marketing campaigns and strategic #marketing plans, how about grit, determination, perseverance, teamwork, self-awareness and poise? I learned that I have each of these and without this Executive MBA program experience, I would not have known I possess these traits and can implement them personally and professionally.

I decided to look at the blood, sweat and tears and learn from them, instead of feeling disappointed due to a lame ending. Believe me, I wanted to cry and stomp the last couple months and particularly today. But I made a choice and reframed. I've named this reframing. It's called #annietude. A solid, positive lens in which to see life. I try to have a total badass annietude, most of the time anyway.

My friendships.

Remember that grit? The blood, sweat and tears I referred to? This experience is not about me. Without my allies in this war, I would have been toast. I made some of the best friends I've ever had in my life in the past 20 months. They understand being in the trenches. We went to war together. And this war was one with full-time jobs, families, many with small children, adult responsibilities, bills to be paid and myriad obligations to fulfill. We accomplished this together. That, to me, formed an unbreakable bond and nothing, not even a pandemic, can take that away from us.

My legacy.

Do you know what my kids saw through this? They saw me working my tail off, often times inconsolable from stress. They counted the days with me until I was finished. They saw the gradual deterioration of what I said would be-- the final exams and papers, our last classes, the finale trip to Spain-- all fell apart. Due dates came and went. The trip was cancelled. We never had a final class in person together. And today, a few second announcement flashed on the screen and then done.

But they saw that I could roll with the punches. I could get over the disappointment. I could put focus on the accomplishment rather than what I was missing out on. That resilience, I believe, is something kids need to see. Disappointed? For sure. Side-lined by it? Nah. The life message I sent to my kids was I can do this even if it's not the way I planned it. Even if it's not how it "should've" been. Life ain't easy. And I'm sure as hell not going to live in should have's. I hope they don't either.

We will hold onto hope because that's what humanity does.

We will all remember this time. COVID-19, besides the horrific sickness and death, has stripped so many people of life events, experiences and memories. Incredible milestones like birthday parties, anniversaries, proms, weddings, births, graduations missed, cancelled, postponed...the list goes on. Huge disappointments. Anger, sadness and confusion.

Can we adapt? Sure. We can look at it differently. We will still turn 18, 21, 40, 60, and 80. We will (hopefully) still get married. We will walk in rescheduled graduations. We will have other events that are incredibly special milestones and possibly even enjoy them more knowing how easily they can be stripped from us. We will hold onto hope because that's what humanity does. It's what I did during business school and it's what I'm doing today. I will choose to roll with this because life isnt about should have's. Even if you live in that negative space, life will go on while you sit and pout.

Be open. Be willing. Be adaptable. You won't regret it. The glass truly is, half full. Take a swig.