Impotence and action

I was a bit crabby today at my husband. I told him I don't want to see another link to an article (like this one) telling me how the health system in Yemen couldn't cope with the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases. We've heard that for months now, even before the first confirmed case was reported back on April 10, weeks after almost all countries have already gone into closures, lockdowns, quarantines, curfews and so on. And we're now in mid-May...

I guess it is this feeling of impotence in the face of this kind of humanitarian crisis in a country like that. We're lucky to be here in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan where the leadership seemed to have taken the bull by its horns early on and is diligently monitoring and responding to the situation as it evolves.

What can an individual do beyond wearing masks and gloves and social distancing? I retreat back in front of my computer where I have been losing myself in online courses, earning badges and certificates, and cranking up loads of job applications. I need to be where there is some action or at least read some stories of action.

And so I was drawn to this on-demand, online PMXPO 2020 sessions, particularly the keynote address by a woman, Cara Brookins, who, along with her four minor children, built her own house based on knowledge gained from watching YouTube videos. At first, I thought, c'mon. But this is via the reputable PMI and, I must admit, these kinds of individual stories of grit appeal to me, especially in these times when the role of the state looms large in solving issues.

So, I register and access Cara's keynote address. She started off with her past experience with domestic abuse and violence and I go, Oh man, please no sob story, I've had enough of Yemen's sob story! But it's Friday, full curfew in Jordan, temp has gone up into the mid-30s and my plants want a break from me. So, I continue listening. I got glued to Cara's story. It wasn't so much about the house. It was about building a family, a team, building character, using what is already inside of us, to act big, to bring something into fruition out of scratch. 

I don't want to sound fluffy but I have to say the story is beyond inspiring. It makes me think of possibilities beyond the formal frameworks, matrices, phases and stages, cycles, and so on that we use to think about project or program management. 

The speaker passes on the hammer to us and ask us what we can do with it in our particular projects. Think big. Do the hard thing. What's the worst that could happen? Do over. Show up. Climb your mountain.