It is Good Friday as I type this. Easter/Passover weekend, for my family, has always been a time to celebrate relationships with people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and religions. I find myself feeling sad today knowing those celebrations can’t happen this year. There are also a lot of birthdays this time of year in my family. Those too are being celebrated differently. Other celebrations on our minds are graduations, anniversaries, and weddings being planned.
So, how can we celebrate relationships and important life events in this time of social distancing? Well, I think my little brother said it best, we should be physical distancing while socially connecting. I love that. We all need each other, even more right now. It may take some extra effort and creativity, but celebrating each other and our relationships are so important. Here are a few ideas.
*Take it virtually. My wise brother set up a virtual party with his webcam open in his living room for his birthday. He sent out invitations to friends, family, neighbors from across the country to pop in any time during the day and wish him a happy birthday. I was honored, from thousands of miles away, to pop in just in time to sing him Happy Birthday and watch him blow out his candle. I got to see his whole family as well as a few other family members, from other states, as we got on altogether. What fun it was.
*Post a celebration. A couple friend of mine celebrated their anniversary alone at home, together when usually it would have been a special dinner out. Their answer was to videotape them singing a song about staying home and safe. They posted this on FB for all to celebrate with them. It was such an amazing way to celebrate who they are as a couple.
*Curbside it. I’ve heard of birthdays and graduations being celebrated curb style. One kid was turning 16 and missing out on the big party. So, her friends drove by, dropped off gifts in front of her house and sang happy birthday out their car windows. An elderly man turning 90 had a similar celebration when his neighbors heard his party had to be canceled. The cars lined up on his street to celebrate him.
There are many ways we can celebrate our relationships and continue to socially connect. Share any ideas you have. Let’s get through this Physical Distancing while we Socially Connect.