The best way to be sure I don’t start something is to overthink it. Which I’ve done so many times regarding this blog. I’m actually big on chronicling stuff! During the pandemic, I wrote a series of Facebook posts on my experiences going to the local grocery store every week; I had a long-running daily pandemic meme habit on Instagram for a couple of months; and I literally journal pretty much every morning. The habit of regular documentation is in my DNA and in my schedule — I haven’t been blogging because I overthink it way, way too much.

So I’m going to write this and post it. No “save as draft,” ruminate, delete later. Just post. What’s the worst that could happen? (Don’t answer that.)

Yesterday, I sent out my first email in well over a year to a list of trainers. I’ve thought about everyone on that list for a few months, as I prepared myself to head back into the field to conduct live, in-person events again and figured all of us trainers and public speakers were. I was fully vaccinated and cleared for re-entry in late May, and went on a very short work trip in June.

Here’s a short list of things that became quickly clear I’d need to learn again:

How to airport
How to restaurant
How to sit up straight, without my legs in a pretzel formation, when in public

And here are some things I’m glad I didn’t lose or forget, because they came in handy:

The ability to look at someone’s face and truly listen (thank you, Zoom!)
The value of a reassuring smile to someone else
It takes time to build and maintain high quality relationships, so plan for it in the agenda

What about you? When did you return to in-person teaching and speaking, and how were your experiences? I’ve missed you all and hope to hear from you soon, on this post or another future post.