Maybe the Easter Bunny Does Matter: Consistency Through COVID-19

For those that celebrate, Happy Easter! For those that don't, I wish you the happiest and healthiest of Sundays.

It's been, what, a month?

Let's just normalize everything, we said. Do things basically the same way we've always done them. The first week or two felt displaced yet eerily routine, loosely covered with a blanket of different. Our meetings were sporadic; typically we just enjoyed whatever random photo or plain initials represented us during our online meetings since most started this journey selecting audio only. Basically we started out treating our meetings like ye olde conference calls of pre-coronavirus times. With a swiftness, we learned that faces matter. So now we're Team-ing, Zoom-ing, chatting, ensuring the video is on for all interactions. Why? To stay in touch. To try and engage. Let's face it, in some instances, to force us to shower and keep some semblance of normalcy. During the most un-normal time of our lives. I'm unsure we've truly started to measure this but, surprise, with little fanfare please take note that we've completely transformed the way we do so many things.

Today we've found our groove. We've acclimated to this 'new normal' (which is anything but) with more resiliency than I expected.

Spoiler: It's never enough.

The strangest traditions will rear their heads and you'll realize, "Gah! How did I miss that? Why did I miss that?" You get past that. Next phase? This morning I leveled up. I preemptively thought about a tradition and completely underestimated it's importance and made a decision that so easily could have gone a better way. This was a family/home example, but it translates to work every day.

I spent the past week accepting that our Easter would be different this year. We would not be going to Aunt Sarah's for our traditional egg hunt. For us, that event is tied for first in family fun. I mean, thus far we've missed a family trip to Las Vegas for a heart walk fundraiser, celebrated a self-quarantine milestone birthday for our son (suddenly we have a teenager), and are eyeballing all planned vacations through summer (including sleep away camp) and preparing for them all to be canceled. Lots of change.

I know for a fact I mentioned all week that there would be no Easter Bunny or egg hunt this weekend. My kids are 10 and 12. Lord knows they're old enough to miss the freakin' Easter Bunny, right?

I could have so easily hidden a dozen eggs around the house. I consciously chose not to. This morning at o-dark-thirty, here comes the teenager down the stairs. "Do I need to wait for Bella to hunt for eggs?" Sigh. I reminded my 13 year old there were no eggs. (This teenage status is so new I realize I listed him as 12 earlier. Leaving it. Not ready.) Of course he was fine with my words, no eggs to hunt, but man do I regret my decision a bit. Times are trying for everyone - young and old. Continuity and consistency sprinkled across current chaos lessen the uncertainty and fear. We also didn't dye Easter eggs. Maybe dyeing eggs calms and comforts? Needless to say, I missed the egg hunt boat. But it's never too late to boil some eggs. Current status pictured. For real. There will be dyed eggs.

In a nutshell (eggshell?), during this unprecedented COVD-19 time, young and old, don't underestimate the power of a tradition, whether it's work life or home life. Take the time.

None of us knows what we're doing.

Reality: I get it:

1. This is privilege. Discussing egg hunts and Zoom sessions during a time of unemployment and financial upheaval comes from a place of privilege.
2. My kids are old enough to not worry about the Easter Bunny.
3. None of these acts truly matter. Or...?

Maybe they do. Do they add up? Do they comfort? None of us knows what we're doing. These times are all about what we can control versus what we cannot. Maybe it is time well spent to think about each choice you make that impacts 'the norm'. If you land on something different or less, I recommend you re-weigh your options. A payoff of a smile on the landing this morning would have been so very worth it. Just like the intentional switch to turn that video on connects and comforts. Such a simple act, easily fixed, initially dismissed. Because it didn't matter before. Things are different now.

Until that day we can all gather together again, I choose to replace my daily drive time with deliberating the small stuff that might-just-might fill in uncomfortable gaps that have reared during these COVD-19 times. If we can soothe anyone at any time, why wouldn't we? As leaders, as colleagues, as friends, as family, I can't think of a better investment of found time.

Just because it didn't matter before almost certainly means it could very well matter now.