Catching the silver lining

by Eileen Kendall, Founder of Kendall Law

As 2020 starts to wind down and we enter the holiday season, now is a time of reflection. In this month’s blog post, I wanted to share more of a personal story which I hope resonates with or even uplifts you.

It is surreal that we are still living out what feels like the script for the movie Outbreak or Contagion. Rather than going out, doing what I love by speaking, giving seminars, meeting and feeding real estate professionals, here we all are — not gathering, distancing and missing out on those interpersonal in-person connections that are so critical for us as people.

If you know me, I’m outgoing and sometimes very loud {LOL}. So, during this pandemic, the first month of closures hit me pretty hard. I simply could not stand not being able to go anywhere. I missed people (I still miss people)!

When things did loosen up to go out in a world of social distancing, I finally broke free and met up with my best friend for backyard drinks six-feet apart — It finally got to me.  I cried as I left because I missed her so much. I cried when I talked to friends on Zoom. It just wasn’t the same. If you’re an extrovert like me, this has hit us really hard. For me, I recharge by being around people. For my introvert friends, I wonder if staying home and isolating is any easier for them although I know this has been strange for everyone.

Of course, traveling is what refuels my soul, so sadly there were several vacations cancelled. Despite all of this, we made some adjustments to our vacation plans and found a way to getaway (even during Covid). Thankfully, we made it to Utah to take in Zion and Bryce Canyon. My hubby and I also spent a day on Catalina Island to celebrate our anniversary. I’m looking forward to when we can travel again without fear of the virus. 

During the first two months of the lockdown, I was really scared for my business, but as Dory says in Finding Nemo, “just keep swimming” and that’s what I did. Once the initial shock of a shutdown started to become the new normal and we all found ways to move forward (although in a greatly modified fashion), business started to pick up and my work life completely changed…

I was able to get a PPP loan and a small business loan. I moved into “real” office space that gives me the perfect environment to serve my clients, and I hired my first employee, which has led me to hit record numbers in the performance of my business — in the midst of a pandemic!

People talk about being grateful and finding the silver lining when things are tough. I prefer to call it “catching” the silver lining because sometimes you’re so busy “swimming” that you just might miss it. When you catch it, you hang on to it, and you share gratitude for seeing it and to those who helped you discover it.

While COVID-19 has been soul-crushing for me and for so many others, I still choose to look at the positive things this whole surreal experience has brought forward. Every single day, I’m thankful for many things personally, but I’m especially grateful to the people I serve, for their trust in me and the referrals and work that comes through my office doors.

Thank you to my family, clients, friends and business relationships. Thank you for reading this. And when life gets you down, you know what you gotta’ do… just keep swimming.

Happy Thanksgiving!