It’s been a while since I’ve written anything like this. What better time to start up again than in isolation on my 28th birthday?
The first thing I want to acknowledge, is waking up this morning feeling grateful to see another year around the sun. It’s a blessing that we shouldn’t take for granted, as we continue to learn each passing day.
Now onto the blog.
What we’re experiencing with closures of all sorts and physical distancing is wild. I’ve never seen anything like this and no one I know has either.
Is it an overreaction? Probably. But I remember reading somewhere, it’s better we overreact in this situation than under-react, and kick ourselves later for not doing all that we could have to prevent this situation from getting even worse.
Which brings me to the point of this write-up. The lessons learned from COVID-19 (or at least, the lessons I learned).
OUR HUMANITY
Our humanity has really shone through. Yes, at first people were panic buying EVERYTHING. But, since the shopping frenzy has calmed down, I’ve seen a lot of people step up, ready to help those who need extra support. People willing to go out of their way to pick up prescriptions, provide extra supplies, and share whatever resources they can. Grocery stores setting up early hours to accommodate the most vulnerable members to get first dibs on items they need. Restaurants dedicating food to first responders and frontline healthcare workers. Even governments spending what they can and assuring us we won’t go hungry or without a roof over our heads, (and we’ll see how this plays out later but the promising note is assuring), and really stepping up to put people first.
On top of that, the nightly cheers for frontline healthcare workers, first responders, and those putting themselves at risk on a daily basis while the rest of us are cautioned to take it easy and stay home. There are so many examples of people coming together at a time like this, and I couldn’t be happier.
OUR CREATIVITY
I’ve seen so many posts of people really taking their imagination to the next level and learning so much about themselves. I know for myself and my fiance, we’ve started cooking a lot more, doing workout classes at home (she’s been doing more of it), learning more about each other and exploring new depths of our relationship. I’ve seen others push themselves into better individual habits and become better people. I’m excited to see everyone’s full potential once we’re finished with isolation.
TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED
I’ve realized I don’t need a lot to be happy. Sure, a Netflix account helps to keep me occupied, but in terms of happiness, I’m satisfied with the little things in life. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t take anything I have for granted. A bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, a job that allows me to continue to earn a living, a car to use to get groceries and other essentials, and love. Love from family and friends, whom I’ve talked to more in the last few weeks then perhaps the last few years. Actually. I’m grateful for all of this, and I recognize the blessing each day I wake up. I can’t stress that enough.
Gratitude ties back to appreciating our humanity. I think we’ll be better people after all of this. How can we not be? People have lent helping hands for support, some companies have stepped up to put people first instead of profits (I hope), and there are a number of inspiring stories we hear of those risking themselves for the benefit of others.
JOURNALISM MATTERS
We live in an age where information goes VIRAL (no pun intended) and when it’s not checked, it leads people to draw incorrect and uneducated conclusions, and word spreads fast.
In this day of misinformation and inaccuracy, it’s easy to get sources and concepts and everything mixed up.
Taking myself out of this, there are journalists all over the country who are working hard to make sure the right information and what it all means, gets to you in a timely, but more importantly, accurate manner.
If you have doubts, check the sources, check the facts, and don’t be afraid to hold people accountable. It’s been done to me if I’ve mistaken something (hey, I’m human), and I always appreciate pointers to be more aware and do a better job for others.
Truthfully, journalism never matters more than when people are in a panic and want to know if they will ultimately be safe and secure. I know people have fun with the whole “fake news” thing, but seriously, nothing is more harmful than a message being received incorrectly because it’s been manipulated and twisted in some way.
I have give a shoutout to newsrooms everywhere for the hard work they’re putting in
USING LESS / REDUCING WASTE
I don’t know about you, but I feel the air became a little cleaner lately.
There are less cars on the road and there’s less human activity going on outside, and it seems to me that pollution of all sorts has been reduced.
On top of that, I’ve noticed I’m personally wasting a lot less and actually using the resources I have. I don’t go and buy food that I’m not going to eat, or any materials really. Whatever I do need, I can replenish my supply once I’ve run out (because we live in a part of the world with reliable supply chains). When things are based on NEED and not WANT, it does us better.
So yeah that’s some of the lessons I’ve learned from this COVID-19 pandemic.
A tiny, microscopic virus dismantled the world economy, brought gas prices down, forced people indoors, and yet unified us all in the effort to get rid of it.
Life eh.
What have you learned throughout this pandemic?
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