On the Bright Side of the Pandemic

It’s been hard to see any bright side of the Covid-19 pandemic. I suspect, like me, you’ve had your world turned upside down.

I hope, if you live alone, you have the supports you need from friends and family. And if you have a family to care for, you have the strength to manage the demands. And for couples, living 24/7 under the same roof means a lot of give and take. Some of you may have lost loved ones, a tragedy at any time, but now, unimaginably difficult.

No matter what your circumstances are, I hope you find some solace in the fact you’re not alone. We’re all in this together.

Robert and I are managing, though I forgot to renew my driver’s license and had a major meltdown when I ruined some bread I was baking. It was silly, but not so silly, when you think of how much strain this pandemic has placed on all of us.

But I try to stay positive. I’m writing and gardening more. Rob’s also working in the yard and he’s finished carving a cedar paddle. I feel blessed to have my best friend with me during this scary time.

On the Bright Side

*Families, forced to be indoors, are bonding in ways they hadn’t imagined.

*People are exercising their creative side, coming up with songs and ideas that make us laugh and make our days brighter.  

*Many are reaching out to their old friends for the first time via Skype, Face Time, phone and email.

*There’s more home-made bread, as fears of low supplies have encouraged people to make their own.

*Pets are re-discovering their owners.

*Mothers and Fathers are learning more about their children, who’ve been in day care or with grandparents while they worked.

*Because we’re told to stay at home, we’re re-discovering the joy of freedom, which we’d taken for granted.

*We’re learning what matters most: health, family, and friends.

*And who the real heroes are. Not the celebrities but the health care workers, grocery clerks, and all those on the front lines.

*Our world is getting cleaner—cities are less polluted; waterways are cleaner. We can see what’s possible when we stop moving and consuming so much. We can have a healthier planet.

*We have time to appreciate Nature, in all its glory.

*Even the animals have calmed down. The pandas in the Bejing Zoo have mated for the first time in a decade.

*And Saudi Arabia called a ceasefire with Yemen. Imagine if there were no more wars.

*Countries around the globe have united to fight this virus. Together, in peace, we’ll overcome.

Stress Management for Our Times

I used to give stress management workshops. Managing our stress and anxiety today is more challenging than ever. Because of the coronavirus, so much is out of our control.

To manage stress, we need to control what we can. The more we control, the better we’ll feel.

We can eat well, exercise in our homes, laugh, call friends and family, and tackle those to-do lists that we couldn’t get to because we were too busy working, travelling, socializing, and commuting. And we can try something new, like draw with a pencil and paper, sing karaoke in our homes, dance to the radio, TV or music on our devices. Cook, bake, and read.

If you don’t have a loving partner, you can still get that sexual release–a great stress reducer–through self-satisfaction. Nurture yourself.

So follow the health guidelines– lots of hand washing, staying at home and social distancing if you have to go out. Knowing this makes us feel better, assures us if we follow these rules, chances of staying healthy are so much better.

Leave a Comment

What about you? How are you managing? And on the bright side, do you have anything to add? Always happy to read your comments.

Stay safe and healthy. Sending you a virtual hug.