I know everyone right now stands at heightened levels of frustration. That we all are exhausted and nervous.

We’re trying to live, to care for ourselves and our loved ones in the best ways we know how. And we’re also trying to keep ourselves afloat among difficulties with jobs, with family, with social-political unrest and change, with finances, with loss. It’s difficult out there right now in most parts of the world.

Yet, I can’t help but feel that now, after many months of this, there are certain parts that are blessings. So this is a post about the positives, not the negatives.

For one, we’re getting to see people we normally might only see in passing. Sure, it can be hard to be cooped up in one place without much time for ourselves, especially for us introverts, but if looked at in another light, we’re getting to talk more, to laugh more, to just sit and be together more. More meals happening together. More learning much more about who these people are who we love.

While there are a lot of people who have lost or are losing their jobs, there are others who had companies willing to send them on remote work. If you’re one of those people, that’s something to wrap your arms about right now and be thankful for, because for the vast majority of people remote work isn’t a possibility at all. If you’re one of the people who is an essential worker, you’re less likely to lose your home because you’re still able to pay your bills. If you’ve lost your job, you have the benefit of not being around people, your chance of infection minimal to nonexistent.

There are people out there–a huge number of people–who never used video chat in any of its forms before the virus. The number of people who use video chat has now sky-rocketed. The amount of people who can still talk, who can still see one another, is nearly 100% because of this. The last time we had an epidemic of this nature, no one had this ability. Now, there are people who are talking more to friends and family than before the virus all because of video calls.

A few of my own blessings:

My partner has been home on remote work so we’ve gotten to spend more time together.

I’ve been able to spend more time with my kids.

I’ve been able to attend more events because I’m no longer limited by financial inability when the even it held virtually.

I’ve made more friends during virus-season than I have in the last few years, all because of more online and video chat capabilities.

More opportunity to exercise. Especially given where I live it’s been spring and summer so outside walks are fully possible.

Cooking more and less fast food coming into the house because of the need to stay home.

These are just a few of the things I’ve been trying to focus on so I’m more positive about everything going on. Hope you have found some of your own positives :)

~Emmi