Keeping Calm in a Crisis - Coronavirus Edition
The level of panic in the world right now is astronomical. In fact, I think the only people not worrying are the actual astronauts on the International Space Station.No coronavirus in space.But seriously, I know a lot -- and I mean A LOT -- of people are concerned about their travel plans (among literally everything else).So today I want to quickly check in with all of you, let you know what I’m doing as an avid traveler to keep calm during this crisis, and also offer a couple of tips on how you can do the same!I want to make one thing clear, though: I’m not here to tell you what to do. Everyone in my house has been affected differently, and I have no doubt that all of you have been hit uniquely by this as well.
Rationalizing
Do me a favor right now and take a deep breath. Now unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders, and wiggle your toes.Being tense isn’t going to help with anything.In the last three days, I was laid off from my job as a travel agent, cancelled a week long trip to Italy, and postponed any and all future travel.I gave myself two days to wallow in self-pity. The anxiety and the fear controlled my life for forty eight hours. Irrational thoughts ran wild like the penguins in that one aquarium that let them roam free because it was shut down (guys, it was adorable).Then I got back to work. It’s okay to feel fear. If I’m the first person who’s told you that, then I’m sorry because someone else should have told you sooner. It’s okay to be scared. These are scary times.But you will travel again. You will go back to work. You will leave your house and interact with other people.For every negative thought I have right now, I try and counter it with an affirmation.It keeps me rational -- keeps my head up without being in the clouds, and my feet on the ground without succumbing to the earth.
I'll just have to satisfy myself with old pictures of Rome for now.
Reconciling
As I’m sure you probably guessed, I have a new routine. I haven’t left my house in four days with the exception of one trip to the grocery store.I’ve also spent a lot of time soul searching. See, everything changed for me overnight (literally). Sunday, I had a job; Monday, I didn’t.Well, I had a job, but I was being told I couldn’t do it.I’m sure I’m not the only person in this boat either. Whether it’s a concert or a trip or a wedding, almost everybody has had an event they were looking forward to displaced.It was really difficult to come to terms with the fact that my entire plan for the next six months had changed because of something completely out of my control. And I know I’m not alone.I don’t have a tip or trick for you on how to reconcile Plan A with Plan Z, but I wanted to tell you that you’re not alone either.
Respecting
Here’s the thing guys, the travel industry is overworked, overwhelmed, and understaffed. And that was before the coronavirus hit. I’m one of three in my division who was just laid off, and that’s to say nothing of the rest of my company and industry.The airline that you’re trying to call to change your flights in August? They’re going out of their mind trying to re-accommodate people whose flights are in April.I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it really is.So, if you don’t have a flight in the next six weeks, keep the phone lines clear for people who do. Your trip and your health and your safety is not any less important than everyone else’s. Nor is it any more important. Try and be respectful of your fellow humans who are traveling in the upcoming weeks and wait to call the airline until the initial chaos has died down.Your respect today will equal a better experience tomorrow.And please please PLEASE don’t forget that the person on the other end of the phone is just as frustrated as you are. We’re all in this together.
When it rains it pours, but this too shall pass.
The moral of the story is this: COVID-19 will pass. You will eventually be able to leave your home (and take a solo trip while the prices are still low to get away from everyone you’ve been quarantined with…). Everything will be okay in the end. In the interim, let’s support each other in any and every way that we can. Do you have any questions about an upcoming trip? Reach out! I’ll help in any way I can (or at least point you in the right direction). I’ve gotten pretty good at speaking “travelese” over the last few months…