Reach Out and Touch Someone (Not Literally)
Your Average Jo with her BFFs.
If quarantine has taught us anything (aside from the fact that pants are overrated), it’s how important our connections are. (And I’m not referring to WiFi, though that’s also critical to my sanity.)
At first the hibernation, the slower days, the not having to get “dressed” (or showered, for that matter) was manageable, and even somewhat enjoyable.
But 500 weeks later, the novelty wore off (and the stench set in) and the lack of true connection started taking its toll. The shitstorm that is the USA is a perfect example. Aside from the lunacy of its leaders touting citizens’ constitutional rights to congregate (I suppose it’s also a constitutional right to be an idiot), I can fully understand why it’s the 20- and 30-somethings flocking to bars. They are starved for connection.
For the record, I am NOT condoning it. I believe it’s the lack of leadership that’s preventing them from making smarter choices and finding ways to connect without turning the country into a coronavirus clusterf*ck.
I knew it before, but now I really know that there is no substitute for real-life interaction.
And while it’s too early to be flaunting our red-and-white feathers on this side of the border, I’m very proud, and grateful, for our collective efforts and Canadians’ common sense. We have much more to celebrate than the start of summer. We can finally connect with our people — in person! That doesn’t mean you have to crawl all over them and share your potentially harmful droplets. But you also don’t have to rely on Zoom for get-togethers. (No disrespect to Zoom, you are an essential service, but I’m sick and tired of staring at my own mug.)
And I say this to my fellow Canucks, because I trust that just like sex and alcohol (two of my other favourite pastimes), you will do it responsibly.
Last week, my superstar team came to my backyard for a start of summer celebration. (Good thing there are only six of us!) And while we made sure to spread ourselves out, we’ve never felt so close. We even met our amazing summer student Sophie in person for the very first time! (She is just as adorable IRL as she is online.)
They all found my countdown to the party and my elation to seeing them all rather amusing. But a large part of my motivation for being an entrepreneur is building an incredible team and culture so having them around was (and is) one of the greatest rewards. (And for more on that, read this.)
And then last night I got the ultimate gift of a girls’ night out — with my BFFs! At a restaurant! (On a patio, of course.) Wearing real clothes! We were like giddy teenagers, strutting our outfits, debating cocktails or wine, and laughing our arses off. And then came the part where we even compared masks. (Hey, these are the times.)
Like my Bullet crew, I love these ladies like nobody’s business and have always appreciated what they bring to my life. But it’s been a long time since I’ve squealed with joy about meeting them for dinner. It fed my soul (and my stomach).
Again like sex, when you go without it for a long time, you get used to it, but as soon as you have it, you want more. And you can. And you should. But please, just use protection (this time, it’s masks and sanitizer).