Saturday morning, I was 12 hours into my big two-week Paris trip with my mom.
I was staying at my college buddy’s for the first two days since I was swinging through Florida to get my mom.
“I think it’s a false positive.”
I opened my mom’s whole message, still hopeful, but also kind of knowing what I’d find.
Dad got COVID.
Mom went to Walgreens on Sunday to pick up unexpired tests.
Sure enough, they BOTH have COVID. (Thankfully, they’re also asymptomatic.)
So yesterday was a brutal day for decision-making.
Do we just follow the 5-day CDC guideline, mask up and still go Tuesday?
Or do we reschedule altogether?
Thoughts running through my mind…
… I spent so much time planning and scheduling and booking.
…and I’ll spend so much more time replanning and rescheduling and rebooking.
…and I’ve already traveled across the country to pick her up
…and most of all, my mom’s heartbroken.
To clear the noise in my head, I applied my decision risk framework.
Upside, downside, can I live with the downside?
I use it to make any choices that involve risk. It helps clear out the emotions and cognitive biases.
Upside of not going is a worry-free vacation later.
Downside is rebooking EVERYTHING and a sad mother.
Can I live with the downside? It sucks, but yeah, it’s manageable.
Upside of going is…well… going!
Downside risk is she gives me COVID and I spend a week in a Parisian hotel room feeling like hell.
Can I live with the downside? No, that sounds positively awful.
So I’m flying back to SF as I write this.
We’ll reschedule and try again next month or in the Spring.
24 hours later and it still feels like the right decision.
Decision risk framework to the rescue again.
