Talisman Philanthropy

Philanthropic Breather

October 27, 2020 at 9:55 am Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment

Get Away

No matter how much self care you practice (or not) – more than a weekend is required for those of us in philanthropy to recharge.

If we’re still employed, we count our blessings and more importantly know the work of raising money for needed more than ever nonprofits is seriously important. And requires all we have to truly engage with donors more than ever.

Some of us used to travel (a lot) for fun and work. That’s not happening anymore and a work trip turned into a long weekend is gone. The energy we give and receive from being with our peers leading philanthropy is reduced to more scrolling and virtual fundraising conferences. We longingly look for and at each other on the Brady Bunch squares of online meeting platforms and use chat to connect.

Fundraising is a team sport – and we are the coaches. If we aren’t at our best no one is. The longer the pandemic continues the more we need to take care of ourselves – so we can support friends, family and colleagues. Put your mask on first so you can help others.

We are eight months into this pandemic. I have no certainty this will end before March 2021. Everyone is on edge. Goodness knows how parents are coping with working from home and online learning.

And then there’s the election, fires, hurricanes – I mean how much can we take?

I have decided on a change of venue and know how fortunate I am to be able to do so. Just driving away from Las Vegas – I could feel the dry desert turn into cooler temperatures and touch more humidity. My shoulders left my ears and I could feel my lower back let go. Driving by a local park, the smell of cut grass almost brought me to tears.

I brought my road bike and have already clocked more miles than the past 24 months. Happily riding through neighborhoods, I haven’t even found the “bike trails” and don’t care.

My phone sits nearby with less screen time than ever. Sleeping in – a luxury knowing the desert heat won’t curtail any outdoor activities. I have mixed full vacation days off away with some half days of work from afar. There’s an advantage to working remotely – look for positives.

Location is everything – and despite the pandemic some cities are very creative. Closing entire retail streets allowing a wide berth for pedestrians. Restaurants are able to open for outdoor seating only – and the closed street allows for more outdoor seating every where – masks are mandatory and social distancing is easier. It’s almost normal feeling and nice to take a walk at night outside.

May I suggest, if you, like me, have put off “going somewhere” – don’t. Try a long weekend drive. A Saturday as far as you can safely go and come back. Depending on your state, hotels and restaurants are serious about pandemic precautions and see that guest take them. I did a lot of research to determine where to and how.

I am only three days in and already feel my heart and head space clearing and refilling. I know when I return I will be better off and ready to continue the important work of philanthropy. Join me in taking a break in a way that works best for you.

Entry filed under: Fundraising, Travel. Tags: #coronavirus, #philanthropy, #takeabreak.