Simple Joys & Small Victories – Cause Communications

Over the past several months, communicators and other changemakers around the world have all pivoted, paused, revved up, and in the process learned about our own resilience, mental strength, and capacity for growth. Yet, in spite of our perseverance, it’s hard not to feel worn down and discouraged—especially now that we’ve realized we’re running a marathon, and not a sprint. As we continue to rededicate ourselves to meeting this moment, we recognize it’s more important than ever to celebrate the often simple joys and small victories along the way.

This month, our expanding Cause Communications team is sharing some of the personal ways we stay strong, hopeful, and healthy to ensure we stay socially connected as we physically distance.

LIANA ALMONY
I thrive off of a full schedule and am happiest when I am at my busiest. At the beginning of quarantine, when life as we knew it came grinding to a halt, I found that too much time on my hands could easily turn into time spent focusing on the negative aspects of our new normal.

Instead of moping around the house, I try to use the extra time at home to build new habits and pack my schedule with activities I’ve always wanted to pick up. I have discovered a love for long outdoor runs, which helps clear my head and improve my mood. Meditating for 15 minutes every morning followed by journaling in a “gratitude journal” has also been beneficial for a positive mindset. Picking up new hobbies keeps me busy and practicing conscious gratitude throughout the day, helps me stay positive and combat that looming sense of doom many of us have been navigating.

BOBBY SEVENICH
The past several months have reaffirmed my insatiable extraversion. I hold the motto, “the more the merrier” close to heart and thrive on the energy, creativity, and optimism of others—principally in-person. Now, working and living physically separated from others poses new challenges. The distance leaves me feeling confused and often complicates my ability to authentically empathize. So, I’ve learned to be more proactive in maintaining vital connections.

As I settle into this new normal, I appreciate the time and space to discern and navigate my relationships. I’m able to examine each and assess how best to keep them all active. Weekly Zoom trivia nights and movie clubs with friends and family help establish intentionality and commitment, keeping good humor and spirits intact. I also keep nightly text check-ins with others to share gratitude from the day. These rituals provide clarity, structure, and newfound appreciation. The smaller, intimate moments make the larger uncertainties so much easier to brave.

SUSI VAN HORN
I am inspired by the stories of the children, who—through the magic of hope and fueled by the power of love—choose to do wonderful, selfless acts for others. They are a sign that love can heal the most broken of us. Recently, a young boy who started a group called “Young Advocates was featured on ABC Nightly News. This young boy was someone whose heart inspired him to help others and to include his friends in that effort. Kids like him inspire me to embrace that power in every interaction I have with people during this time, including with myself—which is not always easy.

As I reflect, I sometimes wonder: Am I perfect? No. Do I have bad days? Yup. But I try to always arrive at a place of love and gratitude for those who are essential to our wellbeing—across so many different fields. Those people deserve all the appreciation they can get.

CARRIE SPENCER
Setting daily schedules for work starts and stops, getting a change of scenery, and intentional self-care helps me keep a sense of normalcy in very unnormal times. The days I meet even one of those goals feel like victories! On days that are more challenging, Mr. Rogers’s words of wisdom remind me it’s OK: “Some days, doing ‘the best we can’ may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn’t perfect on any front—and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect of ourselves or anyone else.”

During the times I need an extra boost, “unplugging” with entertaining films I used to see as guilty pleasures are my go-to. (Current favorites: Sweet Home Alabama, Sliding Doors, & Pillow Talk!) And when all else fails, John Lennon said it best: “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

CHRIS HERSHEY
Juggling a busy workload often feels incongruous with the slower pace of isolation and business slow-downs everywhere. Maybe this is why I have been finding joy in the most routine of activities: being in nature and reconnecting with energies larger than mine; easy walks in our beautiful Santa Ynez Canyon; watching an ever-changing array of seasonal birds at our growing number of feeders (bright yellow Western Tanager the latest). Even deepening personal relationships via Facebook and virtual chats—all are examples of finding grace in simple pleasures. I am increasingly aware of the shift from doing to being.

JESSICA TRUEX
This pandemic has made me realize something about myself: I thrive on things to look forward to. I assume most (if not all people) would agree this is nice to have, but I have learned that it is something I need. A party, a family get-together, dinner with an old friend, a trip—having these things on the horizon to point to (even if a long way off) is essential for me.

With so many plans turned on their head or halted completely and uncertain times that make future planning almost impossible, I have had to find new ways and focus on planning things to look forward to in a completely different way. Scheduling out FaceTime calls with friends, putting walks with my dog to get out of the house on the calendar, discovering a new show to binge—it’s still a work in progress, but definitely makes a big difference.

CHRIS DE HAAN
As Heraclitus, said: “Change is the only constant in life.” Embracing this has served as a reminder that living is often a matter of striking a balance between two opposing forces. I’ve found that actively taking mental stock of my emotional reactions to it, either during a quiet walk through my neighborhood or a hike in the hills, briefly capturing my feelings in a journal entry, or even simply creating a COVID-19 photo story album in my iPhone has helped keep me engaged, rather than disconnected, from my changing reality.

I’ve also found strength in just maintaining the simple constants of my daily routine: getting up at the same time every day, routine fitness regimens, taking care of personal business or work-related tasks during “regular workday hours,” eating meals at the same time—and never forgetting to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and important milestones I share with my family and friends, just like I always used to.

VANESSA SCHNAIDT
The need to remain physically distant has prompted me to be more intentional about connecting with people who keep me grounded and “fuel my tank.” Weekly video chats with friends, Zoom check-ins featuring four generations of family, and a renewed love for the art of letter writing have created a more consistent connection with certain people than before the pandemic. That intentionality—and choosing to honor those “plans” even when there are dishes and laundry piling up—has made such a difference. I feel more grounded and positive, which keeps me motivated, focused, and ready to give my best.

Another unexpected “victory” has been finally tackling all those books on my must-read list. Swapping out my phone for a book at the end of the day provides such a simple way to slow down, take a break, and create some quiet moments.

We’re still learning and growing, so we want to know how you’re celebrating small victories and simple pleasures. Tag @CauseComm on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and share some practices and tips that have kept you positive and motivated!