Happy Mother's Day from Ilana

I’ve spent the last few weeks pondering the perfect message to acknowledge our reality given the pandemic and quarantine but also to honor this special day - MOTHER'S DAY.

Reflecting on our mothers today...or being mothers...through a new lens, maybe you are missing her more because you wish you had her in your home during quarantine, maybe it’s regret that you can only see her from a socially distanced space, or maybe you can’t see your mother in person at all.

Maybe you are ‘trapped’ in the  house with her and that's too much or maybe you are the mother that your kids feel ‘trapped’ in the house with. Perhaps you are grateful, frustrated or sad... maybe all of it at the same time. Take the time to acknowledge that whatever space you are in right now, emotionally and physically, just is for NOW - and HOPE lies in knowing that this won't be forever.

For this mother's day, I choose to think about SILVER LININGS.  Maybe it is found time spent with loved ones, the opportunity (chosen or not) to reimagine your career, time to let your body rest or exercise more, feed it nutritiously, or connect with people you have lost touch with. It's a great time to step away from your daily routine and RE-IMAGINE your life without the limits you have put on, whether out of habit, routine and lack of time. 

It is also a great time to think about what you WANT to do, not what you SHOULD be doing, a time to step away and dream a little. That's one of my silver linings…making time for things that are not urgent but very important. Changes are starting to happen in my life that will last - I’m slowing down enough to notice that I want more time in between my steps and breaths...and am now breathing new life into my choices and career. WHAT IS YOUR SILVER LINING? 

Virtual Mother's Day Book Talk! 

I had the pleasure of giving my first virtual zoom book talk this week! It was an evening filled with beautiful, poignant, honest sharing about mothers, daughters, shared legacy and gifts, inherited pain and thoughts on healing ourselves and relationships. Kudos to all the brave women who embrace the beautiful and amazingly complex relationship and struggle to find meaning for themselves and their daughters. There is one thing for sure, having worked with mothers and their adult daughters for over 30 years, is the amount we care about one another, and fierce mutual protectiveness is quite universal and profound.  
 

COVID Careers: Support and Resources
 

Shout out to my amazing colleague PAULA BRAND!  Paula pulled together a great event in honor of International Women’s Day and I was honored to be a part of a panel with 6 other career development experts. Together we explored future proofing your career, negotiations, women over 50 in the workplace, role models and more.  Be on the lookout for more programming for women by women. 

Check out Paula’s latest newsletter. She has pulled together some great resources on COVID CAREERS and uses of LinkedIn that you probably never knew existed. Her newsletter includes invaluable tips, advice, and resources on job search and industry and industry research during Coronavirus.