This is Christine here. The photo is of my cat Pebs, who is a physical distancing failure. I love her anyway.

First off, I hope you all are doing as well as can be expected.

Second, I just wanted to share a COVID-19 observation, loosely related to the Safety Team. 

Like many of you, I have been working at home, and trying to get outside to walk as often as possible. I have NEVER seen so many people out walking before. There is literally ‘walking traffic’!

If you have attended one of our workshops, you likely heard us mention “the sidewalk challenge”. This is in reference to the observation that I (and other women) have made when walking and are approached by someone else from the opposite direction, sharing the same path.

As a smaller woman, I have noticed that people—most often men—expect me to move aside, without really seeing me. (There is no judgement here—just an observation. I believe that we have all been socialized to act in a certain way, with women frequently socialized to step aside.)

In our workshops, we suggest that women practice “walking like a person with power” aka “walk like a boss”; I do this frequently and find that it is both an effective way to work on building my own confidence and physical presence while challenging the assumption that I should always move aside for others. It works.

My recent observation when I am out walking is incredible. Not only are people moving aside when they see me, but they are literally RUNNING to get far away from me. Somehow, we are finally seeing each other more. 

Make of that what you will, but we are now visible. I am grateful that people are practicing physical distancing and taking this crisis seriously.

Be well, and keep walking like a boss!

Walk Virtual hugs to all. xoxo