1 year on from the first lockdown discover the stories of three people who took advantage of this situation by showing resilience and inventiveness!
An unusual year
Whether you were in lockdown alone, with your loved ones or with friends, everyone experienced it differently. Faced with an unprecedented situation, people have shown resilience, drawing on their resources to be able to get through this difficult time as best they can. Some even managed to push themselves further. Here are the stories of Gabriella, Élodie and Fiorella, who made the most of it and showed us that a situation like this one can also be beneficial.
Gabriella, Yves Rocher Sweden, surpass yourself
To say that 2020 was a year of reconnecting to nature would be an understatement for me here in Sweden. As a true city girl with a constant need to travel the world and a desire for social interaction, the pandemic forced us all to become creative and let go of many things we thought were the norm and replace it with new possibilities. I have never been more grateful for the gorgeous Nordic nature and the proximity to the sea.
Beach vacations abroad turned into daily walks with my dog along the beach in silence, I started training to be able to swim in the cold sea even during winter without a sauna (and I achieved my goal, I now go for a swim three times a week in 4-degree water) and most importantly I realized that by reconnecting to nature, I was reconnecting to myself and what is important in life; health, the present moment and taking time for myself.
Élodie, Yves Rocher Belgium: getting out of your comfort zone
The first lockdown came as a big shock for me, I focused on myself a lot, on what I wanted to do, it gave me the opportunity to take some time to reflect and focus on the essential.
Moreover, at the start of the lockdown I had decided to quit my job after working there for 6 years. I had been very involved with some big changes and I was getting along splendidly with my lovely colleagues, but I wanted a change, I wanted to take new risks and get out of my comfort zone. I took the plunge and I think the lockdown accelerated things.
I had thought about Yves Rocher for a while now, a love brand with strong values. Its visionary, committed and authentic approach caught my attention. I also wanted to stay in Belgium, I’m French but I moved to Belgium during my studies, I did my first internship and started my first full-time job here. I had added value and knowledge of the Belgian and Dutch markets, so I wanted to continue down this path.
Given the situation, it was a decision that really surprised my family and friends. But at the same time, I have a go-getter and passionate side and I did all my interviews during the lockdown (from March to June if I recall correctly) and it was clearly this goal of getting the job and starting at Yves Rocher that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the first lockdown! In the end, I accepted the job without meeting anyone in person, without ever even visiting the offices!
The second lockdown arrived soon after, and I found myself working from home. It forced me to reach out to others and build good relationships with my team, my management and HQ, as well as other managers from different countries. I’m sure that working from home can also bring people together.
Fiorella, Yves Rocher HQ: discovering a new passion
Lockdown gave me the opportunity to learn more about myself and to discover new passions. One that I’m very passionate about is watercolor, which I discovered thanks to my best friend. A sudden feeling of calm washes over me when I’m painting, and time flies. It lets me express my creativity and stay in the moment. I love being able to give my paintings to loved ones, it’s a unique gift!
I started painting in June and continue to do it regularly, as soon as I find the time or sometimes for entire days! I started by doing rough drafts: first digitally with Photoshop, then on paper by choosing my color palette. Some of my friends and family have started asking me to do paintings for their homes with a theme, for example animals or nature, I’ve been able to paint several of them as baby shower gifts (there have been a lot around me lately!), which always gives me great joy!
