The 2020 California Shut-Down Taught Me How To Fly
Adapting to unexpected events is something you practice throughout your life so you can fly with broken wings
Adapting is a learned super power. Flying with broken wings is not impossible.
I could have been much more upset at the onset of the shutdowns, lock-downs, whatever you want to call it in 2020.
In California, events were shut down with an order on March 19. Our film festival in San Diego has been an in-person film festival that takes place every single year during the last weekend in April. In 2020, that was just over four weeks away.
I could’ve reacted to the news. Thrown a fit. Called friends and ranted. But time was crucial.
If you get to know me, you start to realize two things:
One: I’m an optimist.
Two: I’m stubborn.
I was busy that day, on March 19, 2020. I was organizing the festival, set to take place April 24-26 as a live in-person event. We had three days of magic and celebrations planned. Filmmakers had confirmed attendance from far off lands across the ocean, from different states and cities in the country, and presenters and speakers were set to come to beautiful San Diego. All in a matter of weeks.
Any good movie has a plot and a climax point!
Check this out…the time I found out about this was later that same evening the order was broadcast. The announcement stated that as of the next morning, all businesses were to shut down all in person operations. Hospitals, grocery stores, and the like were the only exceptions. Everyone stay home unless you have an urgent need like food, healthcare, etc.