Recognizing everyone’s feelings, you should feel free to list only one or two "benefits"of COVID time if that’s all you can drum up. It’s ok!
Many of us are having less family time or even if helping a family member (like an elderly parent) doing it with hesitation or fear that we could be harming them. It’s a slippery slope.
I think it goes without saying, that for most circumstances, “you are not alone”.
And with that I say while I listed my “benefits” there is still a wistfulness there - a longing for most things to be the way they used to be- but, I find I must always, always look for a silver lining no matter how small.
And that is a “benefit” - really clinging to small wins during COVID.
This is something I’ve given thought to. It’s been a lot of ups and downs, especially for DD’19.
It was sad that DD had to leave college but we got to have her around, and getting the refund and CARES money will help pay for next year. And she got to start her job early also helping with next year’s costs.
It’s too bad her Colorado class trip was cancelled but at least she wasn’t away from home then when she got strep and scarlet fever!
I’m sorry my niece had to postpone her wedding but then we were able to be home when our old dog took a turn for the worse and died…
It stunk we couldn’t go to Disney World as planned but then we were able to be present as DH’s father took his last breaths.
It was rough for DD to be quarantined from her BF for 2 months, when they’d hardly seen each other all year already. Then his mom who is SIP said if he wants to play baseball and work he’d have to move out so he came here and it’s been fun for all of us. And really been great for DD’s mental health (see all previous paragraphs!).
Looking back I guess the major theme is it was good we were home for this other bad stuff to happen but that’s just the way the year is going. We’re doing alright, mostly!
Thinking about the good things from the pandemic doesn’t mean ignoring the bad.
I don’t know/know of anyone whose life has not been negatively impacted in some way. And some are more impacted than others. I have had some positives (see my prior post), but I miss my kids. S lives in London - a trip home (if he could even do it) would require a 14 day quarantine on both ends. So…not possible. I’m missing my D as well.
I think it’s great to have a thread focusing on something good- finding the good doesn’t mean ignoring the hardships.
I’m thankful for this thread. We’ve all had tough times with this virus, so it is refreshing to look at some of the positives… I also got upset with those on the retirement thread who posted how they got out of the market in time to reap a nice windfall – as I saw our retirment savings plummet. I’m hoping these posts are trying to focus on perhaps some of the benefits we’ve learned along the way, and definitely are not meant to ‘brag’ about good fortunes.
Not over scheduled. My 2nd job has been on hold, so I have much more time to myself/family for the first time in 15 years. I may not go back when we start up…this time off has been eye-opening.
My lawn and garden are amazingly well-kept without the other distractions, crazy schedules, etc.
Bird watching. They have names, and I love them. Who knew?
Adding on 4)
Parks and Rec on Netflix…see point #1 and you’ll understand why I never had time to see this gem of a show. Our whole family is laughing every single night except for me, it’s for the first time…
I was talking to my daughter about this thread (she is 3,000 miles away). She thinks it is uniquely American to look for silver linings. She once had a serious injury and people kept asking her if she found meaning in her experience. She said “no.” The rehab psychologist actually told me this was a very well-adjusted answer!
I think it’s great to have a thread like this honestly. But there are times when certain threads remind me of the socioeconomic level on this forum. People have houses, are married, have jobs even with the pandemic (maybe not all), live in nice places for walks, cook good food, afford air fare and have enough bathrooms for kids to safely visit or live
I’m not suggesting that people be altruistic all the time. It’s just that it is good to be aware there aren’t silver linings for everyone. Sorry. I am not in the same bad mood that I was in last night I guess I feel a little jealous.
My commute has been cut down to 1 minute or less (time it takes to get from the kitchen into the basement aka my “C-suite”!). My coworkers adapted to the whole WFH thing super efficiently. I gained a good 1.5 hours a day that can be spent on exercise, gardening, you name it, and I am not wasting the opportunity.
Finally someone began to pay attention to biotech. PCR is being mentioned on the news daily.
My husband and I have been spending more time together than ever but had only one minor disagreement during this “trip to Mars.” :)
Plus, not to jinx things, our extended family and friends have been staying healthy.
Started an additional instagram, this time that is public.
Never bored. But I guess I expected that.
Had no idea so many product options were out there for shopping online. Great for living in a rural area. And grocery deliveries to our home is a real treat!
Lost 26 pounds which is exactly what I have been wanting to lose for a decade and I am beyond happy.
I liked the neighbors on my street before but after the events of the last few months, we are all now blood brothers.
My brother -- a high-pressured work traveler & super successful guy -- reconciled with his wife once he was forced to stay in one place for 3 months and he (and their children) could not be happier.
That was absolutely my intent, and honestly, I feel a little disturbed that I inadvertently caused pain for some. I know there are very few people whose lives are picture perfect, I know mine isn’t. I lost a child twenty two years ago and there were many days when I couldn’t get out of bed, but now, I choose to find a bright spot in each day - even if it is simply savoring my first cup of coffee. As for the present, the past four months have not all been wine and roses for me either not least of which, I am literally housebound and my mother, on another continent half a world away, was hospitalized; I can’t get to her; I may never see her again, that makes me sad.
So yes, I have my own challenges and I was trying to find the silver lining, the light in my own darkness, And as I am not American, I guess that desire crosses cultures and continents!
If you see a person with a “picture perfect” life, you are definitely not seeing the whole picture.
I would not call this thread a quest for a silver lining. It is a collection of personal anecdotes that, taken together, point to things that the humanity as a whole can learn from and build upon.
I appreciate this thread and I know most of us have struggled during this at least to some degree, even in our privilege! I was raised by a mother who tried to see some good in everything, and I think it is simply an important thing to do. Sometimes there is no good- or it doesn’t reveal itself until a later time, but it is interesting to me to hear what lemonade some of us have been able to make from the lemons that have been thrown at us since early March.
Honestly–realizing how lucky I am is what I see as a benefit of this pandemic. I should focus on this more often. So many people don’t have the options I do. I’m grateful.
The last ten years have been so horrific for our family that I have had to look for bright spots in order to keep going. I usually can find something positive if I look hard enough.
I found the opposite was happening to me as I was inadvertently stress eating and not working out anymore. About a month ago, I had enough and started a Keto diet and bought some weights. In addition, 10 days ago our gym opened back up and I have been working out every single day since (a new found motivation and a little fear that the state of CA will shut it down again or will close for good when they exit Chapter 11 reorganization later this year).
Fascinating how the pandemic effects people in different ways…
About 20 years ago, my kids and I were separately diagnosed with different chronic health conditions. Fortunately we have done much better than predicted and I feel that finding the silver linings has been a large part of defying the frankly grim prognoses.
Thanks for this thread—it is good to reflect on any positives, in my opinion, especially to help during challenging times.
