Yesterday, it was hard to cancel my in-person coaching and therapy appointments. The global public health pandemic instructions are that we do not travel unless necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For me, there is almost nothing like sitting across from someone. The risk of my clients traveling on public transportation or even in cabs was disconcerting so canceling the in-person was the only option.

Eye contact is powerful. It reminded me of another group I attended a while ago. People didn’t look much at others unless it was to exchange glances about someone else (eye-roll type thing). I always felt awful after attending it. After New Year’s Eve, I better understand why.

This is the year of my mother’s passing.

I ask myself, from my training as a psychotherapist and coach and from my humble and flawed background as a daughter and sister, having made all possible mistakes, what I can share that might make life less difficult for you? Here are my lessons learned, so far: