The Silver Lining to COVID-19
Dear friends, I hope you're all doing well on this fine April day! It is April, right?! It's been a wild ride these past few months in terms of keeping up with all the changes and transitions we've been experiencing. I'm currently in the midst of transitioning my one year old daughter into my three year old son's bedroom, and that's been an adventure in itself! You can follow along on my Instagram where I've been giving daily updates on the process (coolmomandcollected)!
Today, I'd like to reflect on these past few months living this "new life" due to the coronavirus, and I hope that you'll do the same. We all know COVID-19 has affected many people in many tragic ways. Jobs lost, family and friends lost, not being able to see loved ones, the plummet of the economy, etc. However, I thought it'd be encouraging to acknowledge the ways that COVID-19 has positively affected us! I'd love to hear your take on this too down below in the comments section!
We all have a new found appreciation for healthcare workers serving on the frontlines, as well as teachers, and service workers that do not stop serving their citizens in the midst of this pandemic.
Social distancing has opened our eyes to the blessing of being able to physically hug, interact, and love on our loved ones. Communication has been at an all-time-high as families and friends reach out to affirm their love for each other, and check in on each other.
Many parents are forced to work at home, which leads to families being together more! This may be a challenging transition for some, but for many women in pursuit of becoming a stay at home mom, I know they feel as though their prayers have been answered! This transition has also opened up an equal balance of respect for the stay at home mom (and moms in general), the working husband, caretakers, and teachers who care for these children on a regular basis. More families are eating around the dinner table together since "eating out" at a restaurant is no longer an option. Parents are spending more time with their young children, and vice versa!
Many people are seeking the Father during this time of uncertainty. I myself have so enjoyed being reminded that although I'm unable to control my ever-changing circumstances, I have a Father in heaven who will always stay the same, and this gives me tremendous comfort and hope! The “world's unknown” is not unknown to Him, and my appreciation has only grown for the stability and strength that He brings to my life!
Orders to stay at home have caused us all to breathe air differently, feel the warmth of the sun on our skin differently, and long for walks in nature where we can feel the freedom of the outdoors again in some capacity. In other words, more people are in appreciation of the beauty all around us instead of preferring to stay indoors strapped to technology.
Technology has held us all together during this isolating time with facetime, zoom, hangout calls, etc., but I think many of us appreciate face to face relationships now more than ever.
I believe more people needed to be educated on good hand hygiene than we realize! I don't think the world has every been more unitedly passionate about hand hygiene, aware that germs spread, and conscious of the responsibility we have to keep our germs to ourselves!
We are all learning more and more each day to be still. In a world where we are trained to "Go, Go, Go!!!," we are strangely told to "Stop!," and many people don't know how to respond. However, now people are learning to surrender, and be still. They’re learning to be OK with the idea of "less is more," except when it comes to toilet paper, apparently!
I think more people are embracing their natural beauty with less makeup, less products, and less consumerism since there are no social events to attend. Since some families have lost their jobs and income, people are spending their money where it counts, and hopefully that will help prevent waste!
Since COVID-19, we are all hyper sensitive and required to think of others in society before ourselves, especially when it comes to staying at home, and taking social distancing guidelines seriously. People are learning that what we do affects those around us, and this is a forgotten principle that should have been long in affect prior to COVID-19 coming into the picture! Better learned late than never!
How do you feel COVID-19 has positively affected you, your family, or society? Let me know in the comments below! It no doubt has had negative effects, but finding the silver lining in crisis can build a healthy mindset to endure trying times! I pray that you all encounter a stillness of peace from the Father during this time as you and your families continue to find your new rhythms. Nothing lasts forever, and this time is fleeting so let us find the beauty in these still moments while we can. While we’re all looking forward to the world returning to it's normal rhythm, the above positive affects are mentalities I hope we never lose. Blessings to you all and your families!!
Cool, Calm, and Collectedly Yours,
