Power in the Pandemic: Kendall Smith
Kendall Smith
Consultant
Chicago, IL
Describe your original response to COVID
I was just confused. I was in Charlotte when things were really getting heated. I talked to my manager to see if there was a chance we would stop traveling and he said “No chance”.
Then we started to work from home and at first, that was really cool but then reality started to kick in and I traveled back to Chicago from the client and went straight to the grocery store and EVERYTHING was cleared out.
I started seeing all the people that were affected and it started to get really bad and then I went into a state of shock and disbelief.
Was there a moment or clear shift in the way you responded to the pandemic?
I would say quarantine helped me elevate everything I was already trying to do. I had given up alcohol for a bit to help me focus. I set two goals at the beginning of the year and they were to get closer to God and get fit.
Since quarantine, I have watched church every Sunday and started reading the bible. I was going to the gym prior to quarantine but since quarantine, I had more time to really get good workouts in and cook.
I cook six days a week now and OF COURSE saving a bunch of money since I am not spending $100 at a bar.
I have also been able to reflect on my own personal goals -- if you put someone in a box, they go in there alone and this season has allowed me to really think.
Talk to one or some of your proudest moments during the pandemic
A couple of weeks ago, I was out at a friend's birthday party and got on a scale and around Jan I was 183 and I stepped on my friend's scale and I was 162. They say numbers don't lie and to see the hard work translate into results was so beautiful to see.
When you look back on this season...what do you want to remember
Impossible is nothing -- whenever your back is against the wall and it seems like there's nowhere to go I learned to lean into the motivation that reminded me there’s no impossible.
When my grandfather passed, I just ran...and ran my best time. The road is never clean but as long as we roll with the punches, we will get where we are going.