Love is not Cancelled
Love is not Cancelled!
These are the words I recently said to my wonderful son Chris and his beautiful bride-to-be, Lindsay. This particular couple has looked forward to their Spring 2020 wedding after over 18 months of planning. They are not alone. Countless engaged couples have had to make the tough decision to change, postpone or cancel their wedding day.
In one month, Chris and Lindsay’s steadfast, cherished and exciting plans were tossed and deemed unwanted and unsuitable.
The garden wedding shower - Cancelled.
The theatre Bachelorette in Toronto weekend- Cancelled.
The Vegas Bachelor weekend - Cancelled.
The Honeymoon cruise - Cancelled.
And they are not alone.
Countless engaged couples have had to make the tough decision to change, postpone or cancel their wedding day. What may have taken you a year or two to plan has now become unravelled in recent weeks due to COVID19. For many, this includes the wedding shower, bachelor and bachelorette parties, honeymoons and, of course, the day they have waited to pledge their love with family and friends.
Having all those carefully cherished plans deemed unsuitable is a colossal disappointment.
I get that.
And now, They have made the tough decision to postpone their wedding until October. While my heart is broken for them, all I could say was, “Your love is not cancelled, your love story will still be told.”
Truthfully I believe that, but wow, that is a lot for anyone. Everyone has a story, and everyone is affected. Businesses are suffering, unprecedented Job loss, schools cancelled, economic disaster, and so many more impacts have happened. These are uncertain times, and although every single person is affected by COVID19, some have additional challenges that can make it all so overwhelming.
I have so many clients who have had to close their small business doors and are creatively trying to find ways to connect with their own customers, support their needs and pay their bills.
I repeated that to a new mom who just delivered a beautiful baby girl into the world. She is navigating all of the post-partum experiences without visitors or the traditional supports that are part of a new mother’s journey, also while her business is vastly affected by the pandemic.
I waved to a neighbour who just lost his wife to a courageous battle with cancer last week. I was not able to visit her in her final days, and it was so difficult to know how to express sympathy and condolences.
Disappointment is what a lot of us are feeling right now. It is ok to express gratitude for feeling safe, feeling healthy, and feeling loved. But it’s also ok to still be disappointed. Check-in with each other to see how they are doing. People are lonely, scared, fragile and overwhelmed. The news is debilitating emotionally to watch. And while I am a massive proponent for gratitude, it is shaky and ineffective if we don’t also speak the truth to each other and our children about our fears and lows.
Listen with the same passion you have for being heard.
When we are vulnerable, others can gain our trust by selling certainty to us. No one is certain. Now is the time for love, understanding and compassion.
Love will still win. It is the answer.
I am not trying to promote that I know when this will all end, or life will return to normal. I am not trying to minimize the disappointment and fear that is prevailing, given the current situation. But I am holding on to this one hope.
H.O.P.E. - Hang on, Pain ends.
And above all else, love wins.
Love one Another. Love is not Cancelled or closed, and by doing our part, we love each other. Even though we may not know when this will be over, it will end. Won’t it be an incredible story to tell of how we got through it together, and how lives were saved due to our efforts?
Because as business owners and citizens, we chose to love one another.
I am so proud of the resilience and attitudes Chris and Lindsay are demonstrating. And they are a snapshot of so many heart-strengthening stories. The strength of others is the stories of courage that we will tell for years and generations to come about this time.
Love is not Cancelled, my friends. Love up!
Love your view,