PhotoCredit: Bandana Girl
I almost got arrested yesterday. Well, that’s what the homeless man would have told his buddies. He was concerned that I was not wearing a mask. “It’s the law to wear a mask,” he said with deep concern across his face. He pointed to his shirt, a “Sheriff” badge embroidered on it. Dead-serious. I was more serious about him maintaining six feet of social distancing from me.
To be fair, he was correct. In LA we have been asked to wear masks in public. I dutifully oblige when I am going into a store but, I was out for a walk on Easter Sunday. Nothing was open. No one was around. I didn’t need a mask.
Moments after this encounter (which if it sounds scary, rest assured it was more comical than alarming) I came across a store selling masks. They had just received the shipment. Not N95 masks. Just some overpriced, cotton, basics. Still, it was good to see a supply of any kind of mask - much like I found it oddly comforting when the supermarket had hand sanitizing wipes back in stock.
These are lead indicators. Signs that some (even if small) part of the economy is functional.
As Mark and I walked a little further along Melrose Avenue we passed the iconic pink wall outside Paul Smith. Any other Sunday the parking lot would be buzzing with tourists getting their ‘gram on in front of the wall. This Sunday it was emptier than the canned beans aisle at Whole Foods.
These indicators are heavily based on human behavior. No instagrammers coz no tourists. This tallied with my other lead indicator for travel; the distant view of LAX from my office window. I get oddly excited when I see a plane now. They are few and far between.
I am acutely aware I am watching out my window for signs of recovery.
And beyond my window. Whole Foods still has no yeast. Toilet Paper is in short supply. The N95 masks we ordered are still “shipping any day now”. People are still anxiety-baking, panic buying/stockpiling and our basic medical supplies are stressed.
But my favorite lead indicator, hustle and innovation, is showing positive signs. We are starting to see enterprise spring forth from the wreckage of the pandemic. This will continue and is one of the greatest signs of recovery. Innovation and entrepreneurship will support change, evolution and resilience. We will be stronger on the other side if we do this right. As we do this right.
Finding peace in the hard moments is work and it’s work that’s worth doing. What are you using as a barometer for your personal journey through the chaos? What are your lead indicators that help to keep you on track? A little observation goes a long way.