I’ve been checking in with colleagues, peers, and mentors lately and when one asked me how I was handling things lately, I said “one day at a time” and she said something like that sounds like a good strategy. As if I have a choice!
Still, there’s some wisdom in there. You can only game out multiple possible futures for so long, especially when you left the known map several turns ago and the rules don’t appear to matter anymore.
So you take each day as it comes. Check work email in the morning to see if you still have a job. Wait and see if something new happens each day and if it’s a part of a bigger action, some kind of drip-drip-drip thing, or a one-off. Today for example we had one of the last two types, not sure which, and no I’m not going to leak the details.
If there is nothing new there is usually some ongoing cleanup and support work going on from whatever happened last. Trying to offboard improperly dismissed staff graciously and with dignity. Passing along the opportunities and offers of help to these and other affected people flooding into my inboxes from folks watching from the sidelines in silent horror hoping for some opportunity to help or some idea of what exactly they are supposed to do during a hostile takeover of the institutions of government.
Meanwhile, creative people find ways to express their feelings and stir each other with the energy of laughter, at absurdity, in mockery, instead of or alongside tears.
Lots of sharing stuff like this:
At the end of the workday I had my monthly check-in with my executive coach (from another part of GSA) and learned it would be our last, as she had opted for early retirement. She also agreed that taking things one day a time is a good idea.