AloneTogether - Social Distancing and Social Connection

In our own way, we are all experiencing this massive emerging health crisis which is rocking our planet. The effects are real, whether physical, emotional, financial, you name it. 

Prompted by posts among the generous community of my fellow Georgetown coaches, I started to ponder some inherent polarities. For instance, how are we both supporting our clients and ourselves, while we serve leaders in quickly adapting, clearly communicating, facilitating virtual meetings, managing uncertainty? As we acclimate in this coronavirus environment, how are we planning our work and our joy? How does each person's choices impact the individual and the collective?

In particular, I myself have also been striving (struggling) to practice social distancing and maintain social connection. As are so many. (If you have not seen it, here is an excellent WaPo article regarding the importance of social distancing that everyone should read. In addition, here is a powerful 12-second video by artists Juan Delcan and Valentina Izaguirre which visualizes how social distancing saves lives). This seems to be a new polarity in action - being both alone and together - as part of our new covid-19 reality. How do we find equilibrium? What is effective for you? 

Related to my polarity musings, I have seen wonderful ideas - poems, podcasts, and meditations - to help find calm among the chaos. Here are some more (free) activities/inspirations that I've come across to help boost mental health as we are alone and together during these unusual times. I will occasionally refresh with additions. So, circle back. Life is an experiment. These are admittedly less cerebral, more playful, tapping into our creative beings.

Feel the music groove.

1.   Play music in impromptu groups across windows or courtyards. Thank you, friends all across Italy for leading by example.

2.   Create, post, and/or listen to music. #SongsofComfort. Thank you, Yo-Yo Ma.

3.   Sing a quirky original "Flatten the curve" tune. Thank you, Linsay Deming.

4.   Brighten your day with imaginative song parodies, like Stay Home Vogue, My Corona, Hello from the Inside. Thank you, Chris Mann.

5.   Get your fix of Broadway, while Broadway is on hiatus. #LivingRoomConcerts. Thank you, BroadwayWorld and stars of Broadway.

6.   Take “your shot” at Hamilton. #HamAtHome. Thank you, Hamilton team.

7.   Perfect your hand-washing technique, with guidance from professionals, orangutans, or raccoons. And jam out while you do it with Gloria Gaynor. #Iwillsurvivechallenge. Thank you, humans and animals alike.

8.   Channel your best Freddie Mercury on “Coronavirus Rhapsody.” Thank you, Dana Jay Bein.

9.   Join an epic social distan-sing-a-long. #Choir!ntine. Thank you, Choir Choir Choir.

10. Weave together voices into full harmony for a moving virtual concert. Thank you, Chino Valley Unified School District.

11. Be mesmerized by remotely coordinated orchestral masterpieces, like in the Netherlands or Canada. Ah-ma-zing. Thank you, Rotterdam Philharmonic. Thank you, Toronto Symphony.

12. Bring live theater to your home theater with exclusive at-home videos from members of Broadway (and if possible, show some love to the Actors Fund). #TheIntermissionMission. Thank you, TodayTix.

13. Rally together at a one-day virtual music festival on Mar 29 with artists from 9 cities in 3 countries – for every viewer, $1 will be donated to a fund for touring crews who are out of work. #LiveFromQuarantine. Thank you, Magic Giant and Music Cares (and thank you, Amanda Slavin for blasting out).

14. Choose your top coronavirus anthem – among contenders like Bono, will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson, and Yoshiki; Cardi B and iMarkkeyz; Ndlovu Youth Choir; Psychs; Neil Diamond; The Knack; Pitbull - or maybe make your own. I vote for Alicia Keys’ at-home spin. Thank you, all the artists who are using beats to beat the virus.

15. Experience the joy of live jazz. Thank you, Jazz at Lincoln Center and all the musicians who are streaming their performances.

16. Clap and cheer, hoot and holler for those on the front lines. #ClapBecauseWeCare. Thank you, residents everywhere for making this joyful noise.

17. Unwind with a weekly living room concert series. #LivingRoomSessions. Thank you, DCist and Sixth & I.

18. Prepare to be dazzled with the one-night only “Worldwide Concert for Our Culture,” broadcast freely on April 15 to the globe. Thank you again, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the generous donors.

19. Unite with major stars and fans around the world via an ongoing virtual concert series. #TogetherAtHome. Thank you, Global Citizen, World Health Organization, and a group of exceptional celebrity musicians.

20. Bask in the livestream of “One World: Together at Home” on April 18, building on weeks of many artists’ individual performances above. Thank you, Lady Gaga, Global Citizen, and World Health Organization.

21. Get a mood boost from tribute song serenades by Come from Away; Carol King’s Beautiful; Adam Sandler; and a troupe from the West End, London. Thank you, assorted musical stars.

22. Savor intimate concerts in intimate spaces. #TinyDeskHomeConcerts. Thank you, NPR.

23. Grab a pillow and get comfortable with a new line-up of talented artists, livestreaming begins on April 10, every Mon, Weds and Fri. #KCCouchConcerts. Thank you, Millennium Stage and Kennedy Center.

24. Mark Easter with a musical message of love, healing, and hope at the Duomo Cathedral in Milan. #MusicOfHope. Thank you, Andrea Bocelli.

25. Tune in for a space-themed concert with the National Symphony Orchestra on April 24. #NASAatHome. Thank you, NASA and Kennedy Center.

26. Toast Stephen Sondheim on his 90th Birthday in a once-in-a-lifetime concert event on April 26. #TakeMeToTheWorld. #Sondheim90Concert. Thank you, Broadway.com and all the musical powerhouse stars.

27. Salute "space songs" in a YouTube concert on April 30. Thank you, National Air and Space Museum.

Discover new entertainment.

28. Check out some provocative environmentally-themed films that you may not see anywhere else through the end of March. Thank you, DC Environmental Film Festival.

29. Watch the opera, in New York or Vienna. Thank you, Metropolitan Opera. Thank you, Vienna State Opera.

30. Watch other miscellaneous amazing performances from a digital treasure trove. Thank you, Kennedy Center yet again.

31. Reinvent a social gathering. Thank you, all the virtual hangout innovators. 

32. Tune into a nightly theatrical broadcast. Thank you, theatermakers who launched @Theatrewithouttheater.

33. Explore another treat pairing 20 writers with 20 actors for brand-new material. Thank you, everyone at @24HourPlays.

34. Unite with creative artists as part of a brilliant clearinghouse to celebrate work that was canceled/delayed/disrupted. Thank you, Social Distancing Festival.

35. Live from not-New York, do not miss a one-man SNL on Mar 21. Thank you, Ian Abramson.

36. Call a free joke hotline launched by two small business owners who had to shutter their gift shop. Thank you, Andrew Gawden and Bryce Toney.

37. Host long-distance movie nights with group chats. Thank you, Netflix Party.

38. Exchange anecdotes as part of an interactive story swap. Thank you, Story District.

39. Enjoy short films from the SXSW fest through April. #SupportTheShorts. Thank you, SXSW, Mailchimp, and Oscilloscope.

40. View a medley of prime-time special performances. #HomeFest. Thank you, James Corden.

41. Celebrate the joy of being indoors and follow along each day of April. #IndoorAppreciationMonth. Thank you, Stephen Colbert.

42. Delve into a smorgasbord of classes and events (please note, some require payment, some are free). Thank you, 92nd Street Y.

43. Tune into a weekly YouTube show called Some Good News (or make your own knock-off!). Thank you, John Krasinski.

44. Gather around for a celebrity-filled Passover extravaganza on April 11. #SaturdayNightSeder. #DayenuAlready. Thank you, artists, singers, comedians, and more.

45. Not from Studio 8H, welcome the return of SNL on April 11. #SNLatHome. Thank you, SNL cast and crew.

46. Re-live the sold-out Broadway benefit to celebrate 25 years of Disney magic on April 13. Thank you, BroadwayCares.

47. Join a progressive party on April 20 with a progressive DC theater company. Thank you, Woolly Mammoth.

48. Watch daily live chat series with theater stars about any topic that’s not the news. Thank you, Theatermania.

49. Pop some popcorn for a month-long virtual series of international film selections from Apr 23-May 21. Thank you, FilmFestDC.

50. Tawk like a New Yawker and enter the #BestNYAccent competition. Thank you, Nicholas “New York Nico” Heller.

51. Binge watch premium programming for the month of April, without a subscription. Good excuse to stay at home. Thank you, HBO.

52. Embrace your love of the arts, including art talks, creative writing workshops and Sat morn family jam sessions. Thank you, Strathmore.

53. Unplug with a brand-new library of short 5-10 minute plays, commissioned during our isolation, at your fingertips to download and perform in your pajamas. Your home is the theater. #PlayAtHome. Thank you, major theater companies around the USA.

54. Check out an original webseries from Apr 27-Jun 29, starring artists lost work due to cancelled spring shows. #Homebound. Thank you, Round House.

Enrich your learning.

55. Audit a popular “happiness course” online. Thank you, Yale University.

56. Embody Einstein and go on a brief, breezy excursion into the power of math. #TheDailyEquation. Thank you, Brian Greene and the World Science Festival.

57. Watch and listen to Shakespeare’s plays for students, teachers, and lifelong learners. Thank you, Folger Shakespeare Library and Simon & Schuster.

58. Experiment with culinary tutorials. Thank you, Milk Street Online Cooking School.

59. Enroll in an online course offered by universities across continents. Thank you, Class Central.

60. Tune into a daily conversation series to reflect and work through this uncertain time. Thank you, TED Connects.

61. Join a conversation series, starting on April 22, with leading experts and thinkers about the enduring value of cities at this moment of uncertainty in urban life. Thank you, Open House New York.

62. Mark Earth Day with a full-day virtual global event on April 22 or a multi-day digital summit from April 22-25 or an IG live festival for the planet on April 26. Thank you, Earth Day Network. Thank you, Smithsonian and its partners. Thank you, Pathway to Paris.

63. Observe nature out of your windows, in your gardens, or around your neighborhood. #CityNatureChallenge. Thank you, National Museum of Natural History.

Indulge your wanderlust.

64. Plan a “fauxcation.” For instance, cruise from your couch, or fly first class from your laundry room. Thank you, Jane Trill and your parents. Thank you, Jeroen Gortworst.

65. Gaze at wonders of the ocean through a live cam. I'm partial to the jelly cams, as a peaceful escape from the news. Thank you, Monterey Bay Aquarium.

66. Venture into the wild with 150 guides and conservation experts. Thank you, Natural Habitats.

67. Track lions, leopards, and other animals in a virtual safari. Thank you, SafariLive.

68. Meander through iconic institutions in 360° such as Sydney Opera House; Sistine Chapel; and National Museum of Natural History. Thank you, some of the world’s most impressive destinations.

69. Travel to five spectacular national parks, from glaciers to cave systems to volcano lava tubes. Thank you, National Park Service and Google Arts & Culture.

70. Dive into a underwater marine sanctuary, without getting wet. Thank you, NOAA.

71. Appreciate the natural sounds and night skies of our national parks. Thank you, National Park Service.

Bring out your inner artistic or literary muse.

72. Visit museums online. Thank you, myriad of global arts institutions and Google Arts & Culture again.

73. Tackle a poem homework assignment by WH Auden, though this may strain your brain. Thank you, Anthony Madrid (and of course, WH Auden).

74. Join a quarantine writing hour. #Allwritetogether. Thank you, Amy Cuddy.

75. Decorate with Christmas lights and holiday cheer. #Lightsforlife. #Coronakindness. Thank you, families who are bringing more light into the darkness.

76. Send a postcard to a loved one (this activity does gently ask you to choose what you pay, as each postcard will be handwritten by someone who lost their job due to the covid19 outbreak). Thank you, Outrage Postcard Project.

77. Spruce up your virtual background on Zoom, with a little personality and interior design panache. Thank you, Ellen DeGeneres. Thank you, West Elm.

78. Make your own PSA – from your car, your backyard, your lounge chair, or your screen – in order to spread the word, not the virus. Thank you, Brian Rose. Thank you, Max and Mel Brooks. Thank you, Larry David. Thank you, AdCouncil.

79. Craft a comfort blanket as part of a communal art project. Thank you, Liza Lou.

80. Contribute your testimonials and voices that will become part of a new large-scale work about the covid19 experience. #BroadcastFromHome. Thank you, Lisa Bielawa and Kaufman Music Center.

81. Color your way to a calmer mind with your crayons and pencils. Thank you, Carlos Carmonamedina.

82. Join an all-day Zoom gathering of the DC arts community on Apr 24. Thank you, Halcyon.

83. Recreate old photos. Thank you, quarantined families with hilarious humor.

Stimulate your kids.

84. Do some doodling with your kiddos (or just for the kid in you). Thank you, Mo Willems and the Kennedy Center again.

85. Showcase your high schooler who could not perform their musicals on a stage (or clap and cheer for them). #SunshineSongs. Thank you, Laura Benanti, and students of all ages for sharing your talent.

86. Stream audiobooks for kids stuck at home as long as schools are closed. Thank you, Audible.

87. Get a daily dose of creativity from world-class artists, including some geared to engage the entire family. #LincolnCenteratHome. #Popupclassroom. #Concertforkids. Thank you, Lincoln Center.

88. Inspire family exploration and dive into K-12 resources about the world, science, and more. Thank you, NatGeo@Home and National Geographic Society.

89. Sample intriguing productions through June, tailored for pre-schoolers to teens. Thank you, Trusty Sidekick Theater Company.

90. Encourage young people to tell their stories as part of a biweekly video series in April and May. #GrabTheMic. #WriteRightRite. Thank you, Jason Reynolds and Library of Congress.

91. Embark on a social distancing-approved “scavenger hunt” or “car safari” with your children, or kindly turn your window into a jolly display for the game. Thank you, parents and neighbors, teddy bears and rainbows.

92. Conjure up your own artistic “neighborhood safari” with sidewalk chalk, original art, or coloring pages - on Earth Day or any day. Thank you again, NatGeo@Home.

93. Bust up the boredom with your kids using assorted indoor activities. Thank you, Mommy Poppins.

94. Play indoor games, like social distancing bingo or “I spy” color hunt. Thank you, Color Factory (and thank you, Shannon Cochran-Yzquierdo for sharing).

95. Read children’s books along with Michelle Obama in a weekly series from April 20 to May 11. #PBSKIDSRead. #ReadTogetherBeTogether. Thank you, PBS Kids, Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, and of course, Michelle Obama.

96. Stir up the imagination with stories, videos and activities to fill the Disneyland void, with content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. #DisneyMagicMoments. Thank you, Disney.

97. Experiment with different challenges (like, make a mini movie or build a castle out of household objects). Thank you, Imagination Stage.

98. Engross curious young minds with a new free digital library for the remainder of the school year. Thank you, Time for Kids.

99. Ignite creativity with your kids. Wanna make a musical maraca, or try sketching? #MuseumAtHome. Thank you, Phillips Collection.

Move your body.

100. Dance to some cardio choreo in your living room. #Letsgetdigital. Thank you, Forward Space (and thank you, Ami Watkin, for passing along).

101. Sink into your downward dog, with effort and ease (another polarity!). Thank you, Bluebird Sky Yoga.

102. Sweat out the stress with a special weekly array of on-demand fitness classes. Thank you, Core Power Yoga.

103. Channel your energy and get stronger at home. Rumor is, this is the fitness studio where Michelle Obama toned her arms. Thank you, Solidcore.

104. Get fit with fav fitness trainers on IG Live. #Gettingquarantoned. Thank you, Lulu Faria, Luis Weber, Ilaria Montagnani, Chris Vo, Or Artzi, and countless others. 

105. Work out from balcony-to-balcony. Thank you, Seville residents for your communal jumping jacks (and thank you, Sano Sevilla Los Bermejales for recording and Kris Carpenter for sharing).

106. Forget about Wimbledon. Play some Window-don. Or, practice groundstrokes across rooftops. I mean, most other major sports tournaments are canceled, right? Thank you, Italians who set a new standard with their volleying and rallying skills (and thank you, Gaelle Legrand and Vittoria Oliveri for capturing each video).

107. Learn some dance moves, young and old alike. Thank you, Debbie Allen.

108. “Just do it” with Nike master trainers. #Playinside #Playfortheworld. Thank you, Nike.

109. Boogie down at a virtual club party. One early epic bash on Mar 21 welcomed over 100K+ people! #ClubQuarantine. Thank you, DJ D-Nice.

110. Sample a mix of fitness classes through a new streaming service. #Socialfitnessing. Thank you, Variis.

111. Get your cardio fix at home, and dance like no one is watching. Thank you, 305 Fitness.

112. Release some “indoorphins.” #thesweatlife. Thank you, Lululemon.

113. Shake your thang along with some healthcare workers in these TikTok videos, from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts to Oregon to Spain to Melbourne. Does Beyonce need back-up dancers? Thank you, all medical professionals who are valiantly working to save our lives and also find time for their own joy.

Or... just be still.

114. Take a breath and a midday sanity break. Thank you, Ten Percent Happier (and thank you, Katie Wiesel, for circulating).

115. Pause and be mindful. Thank you, Headspace.

116. Remain grounded. Thank you, Calm.

117. Reflect and renew. Thank you, On Being.

118. Join a daily practice with loving kindness. Thank you, Open Heart Project.

119. Tap into your awareness with a guided weekly meditation. Thank you, Tara Brach.

120. Stroll and meditate, if you are not someone who likes to sit and meditate. Thank you, Murray Hidary. 

Hope that this is useful. Be safe and well. Here's to the human spirit, as we manage the polarity of social distancing and social connection. We are #AloneTogether.