I just watched a video on LinkedIn; some Kenyans were selling farm products directly from their cars parked on the side of a road, to survive financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They were not farmers, as I expected! They were working elsewhere before the crisis (as a teacher, hairdresser, DJ…) but they quickly learned when the music changes so does the dance!—as the journalist said while sharing these inspiring stories of resilience.
I think we should start using a new hashtag #covidhustle 🙂 Who knows: maybe some of those who try something new these days might end up liking it more than what they did before! I’m sure this experience will shift their perspective anyway, even if they won’t fully incorporate it into their future.
When the lockdown started, it caught me in a busy schedule with coaching sessions and teaching the “Business Communication” course at York University Glendon Campus. In my little spare time, I kept noticing what’s happening with me and others. Being a natural optimist, I looked for any positive signs that could spring out of this situation.
Glad that I did! It kept me positive and able to help my coaching clients who were gradually losing their hope. Like those Kenyans, they too learned how to shift their perspective from what’s negative and frustrating, to clarify what they can do now—and even taking steps toward their long-term goals.
However, the long Zoom sessions and classes sucked out my energy. As an introvert, I needed longer breaks to recover. Challenging? Yes. Negative thoughts? Not quite.
An urge to express myself more—in any shape or form—was fast growing inside: I wanted to help more people! During these times, many are struggling to tap into their inner resilience, many lost their jobs…
And one day, it hit me: I have to publish my photo exhibit Metaphors in a book format and make it available to more people who lost their jobs (like me in 2012) or are struggling these days. It was hard for me when that happened; it pushed me in an emotional wreck…
However, I survived and thrived! At least according to my definition of thriving. 🙂
I’m so happy to share with you today that my new book Metaphors: An Emotional Journey is available on Amazon now, in both electronic and paperback formats. It’s a visual representation of my emotional journey—from agony to resilience and hope—after I lost that job. It’s a short book which combines my photographs (taken a year later) with the poem I wrote inspired by these images:
I dedicate this book to anyone who struggles emotionally these days, dealing with a job loss or another major setback in their life.
Do you know any?
While writing this, I realized that I’ve got through a similar emotional journey during my divorce (1996). As a visitor to my Metaphors photo exhibit mentioned: “We all could find ourselves in this visual journey.”
I so love that COVID-19 pushed me to publish this book now! It seems like my #covidhustle ! It helped me realize how much I missed writing and helping my books reach more people who need them. I already think about the next two (one in the Photo-Coaching series, the other in Introvert Strengths series.)
Meanwhile, would you mind sharing the book Metaphors: An Emotional Journey with those who might need it?
And give it a thought: what could be your #covidhustle ?
~ Gabriela
PS: It’s great to see this book as a bestseller, along with another one I like a lot!
