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May 19, 2020

What if we don’t go back to normal?

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I hear it. The fever pitch of excitement over mandates being lifted, businesses reopening, reconnecting with loved ones and friends, going back to work, and no longer living in a stressful sense of limbo and uncertainty. Yes, I hear it and I get it. The excitement over going back to normal.

But what if we don’t? What if, we reject normal and things as they were and instead aim for something better?

What if we don’t forget the things this pandemic lifted the veil off of. Things we tolerated and ignored before we were all brought to our knees in panic, sadness, and fear? Exposing a society that values some lives over others, and isn’t set up to help the less fortunate among us.

What if we stopped idolizing those whom have for so long been celebrated as accomplished and successful but during this time have never given back to their communities, not even once?

What if instead of being so eager to get away, we stayed home and supported the local businesses, the essential(ly) underpaid employees who never got a break during the pandemic so that we could have our foods delivered, our garbage picked up, our subways cleaned, our sick cared for, our children educated, our safety guarded.

What if we took all the frustration with our failing political system and instead of escaping it, we joined in to change it – as activists, protestors, volunteers, community advocates, voters.

What if instead of trying to improve our SEO skills, our Instagram poses, our TikTok moves, we improved our skillsets or learned a trade? What if we ignored the endless self-serving opportunities, set our ambitions to be more than trash famous and did things that actually mattered to others, who need it most and to society as a whole. What if, as creatives we created to contribute something meaningful instead of superficial nothingness. What if, in the process, we gave room for others to tell their own stories, instead of thinking we were the only ones worthy of sharing it.

What if we were more selective in whom we follow? Or better yet became the leaders we need? What if we rid ourselves of bad leaders in politics and in the work place. What if we stopped tolerating mediocrity and made space for those truly deserving of the mic.

What if we valued people not by what they have or how many countries they’ve traveled to, but what they do in their own communities?

What if we took all we’ve learned during this incredibly profound moment in our lives and turned those lessons into generators of good for generations to come?

What if we aimed to be known not for how many followers we have, but for the good deeds worth repeating?

What if we didn’t go back to abusing the environment? Respected wildlife, signs, and barriers, and warnings – even if ignoring them made for epic selfies.

What if we didn’t go back to making what you do for work be worth more than who you are at your core?

What if we accept that the normal we lived isn’t much to aspire to? That to want to go back to normal isn’t an ambitious enough goal that leaves too many others forgotten, abandoned, unseen. What if this is an opportunity not to go back to our lives as it was, but to go create a better version of ourselves and society?

What if we don’t go back to normal? Rejected it for all the ways in which this pandemic has proven to us how broken normal is.

That’s something I can get excited about – to aspire for the courage to not only demand better, but be better in the process. To not wait for someone to change what normal has been, and instead, take the steps ourselves to help make that happen.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

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4 Comments
  • Carolina
    May 19, 2020

    Thank you so much for this post. I’ve taught of this so much: a “new” normal. All the “what if’s” you stated above; us taking advantages of this odd “opportunity” to do something more with our time and life.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Carolina
      May 20, 2020

      Yes! Change is hard, but maybe this was a good kickstart for it.

      Reply
  • Maria
    May 22, 2020

    Beautiful.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Maria
      May 22, 2020

      Thank you. xo

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading!

Carol Cain

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Some times, more than others, you need to hold on Some times, more than others, you need to hold on to moments of joy tighter than ever.

For me, this week, it has been found during long drives through country roads and wintery scenes in wine country. Or with a good movie or TV show (Sylvie’s Love was my latest, along with Netflix’s special “Pretend It’s A City” with Fran Lebowitz). Or with loving conversations with dear friends.

The point is, as a society, there is much to do, but our heart and mind and soul are sacred. Care for them. Love them. Feed them joy, however and wherever you may find it. We may live to fight another day...but we don’t have to live to fight every day.♥️
Of all the places in all the world, here lives a p Of all the places in all the world, here lives a piece of my heart.
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#fingerlakes #myflx #keukalake #citygirlgonecountry #lakelife #upstateny #flxwinter #countrylife @flxwinecountry
Feeling so in tune with what brings me joy and foc Feeling so in tune with what brings me joy and focusing all my energy on that as much as I can, in all the ways possible. Like spending cold afternoons getting mud on my boots in places like these with people I love.
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@visitithaca #winterhike #waterfalls #snowyviews #pictureperfect #flxwinter #fingerlakes @flxwinecountry
Snuggled up in @theflxcottage, cozy and warm, read Snuggled up in @theflxcottage, cozy and warm, ready to greet this new year.
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#myflx #theflxcottage #fingerlakes #newyear #newyork #keukalake
Looking back at this year in photos and I have to Looking back at this year in photos and I have to laugh at how very little it all says about this year. My health scare definitely impacted me but it by no means defined this year for me. It was a year of centering. 

I am grateful for so much. The health and safety of my family. Our ability to continue to work and have jobs. The honest, safe, strong, and loving relationship with my husband whom I really, really enjoy spending time with. The closeness, support, and love of my closest friends - all the tears, laughter, raw conversations and uplifting we shared with each other. The incredible weight lifted from letting go of the people and things that don’t matter. The clarity in what I want. The incredible peace in having all I need. 

I have no resolutions for this coming year other than to hold on to what I already have and to give more to those who aren’t so lucky, which I have found so gratifying.

This year showed me what a lot of other people value and how they define what’s most important to them and in many ways, I needed to see it. It helped me make better choices in what I call friendships and where I focus my attention and time, of which we all increasingly have so little.

So despite all that 2020 took from us, I feel crazy fortunate to still feel I am walking away with such important lessons and tremendous growth. And after all, isn’t that a sign of a year well lived?

Happy New Year. My heart to all who’ve lost so much, who need help and continue to struggle through, and to the many great souls who continue to give to so many.
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#newyear #bye2020 #bestofnine
Headed to #HobokenNJ to pick up the most special p Headed to #HobokenNJ to pick up the most special package to complete my holiday bliss, our oldest son.

There exists nothing I wanted more than my family, together, happy, and healthy. It’s always been something I have appreciated but this year served as an important reminder of how precious that is.

A reminder too that family is what you make it. And we can make joy anywhere. This holiday season I want to say thank you to all those taking the steps to take care of themselves and others. Thank you to all those who fight for we, the people daily. To the activists who have shaped this year in more ways than one. Thank you for the kindness of strangers and friends, old and new. And expressed gratitude for the reminder that true peace and joy is not in things, likes, clicks, or paid-for content - it is in people and moments, many of which never even make it onto the gram but are everything that makes life worth living. Hold on to those the tightest.

Happy Everything.

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