Being stuck at home, out of our routine, and surrounded by negativity on the news and social media, it can be easy to start feeling a little down about the “stay at home” orders. But with every challenge that we face, as long as we can survive it, there is always a silver lining. If you search for things to be grateful for, you will find them. If you search for things to be upset about, you will find them. Today and everyday, try to search for the good in life. Because, in reality, there is no better time to be alive than right now, and we have so much to be thankful for. Below are my top five reasons to be thankful during my Coronavirus “quarantine.”
1. Spending more time with my wife and kids…Ever since graduating high school, I’ve been go, go, go. From working 25+ hours per week while taking a full course load at Ohio State, to graduating and working mandatory overtime at my full time job plus two part time jobs, to my current role, I’ve put in considerable hours into my academic and professional career. But this time off has given me more time with my family over a short stretch than I have had in years and I’m loving it. It is definitely something to be grateful for.
2. Completing mini projects around the house…I’ve been able to update faucet supply lines and install Shark Bites for the first time ever, do some minor drywall touch ups, and paint so far. I didn’t prioritize these items previously, but now am able to squeeze activities like these in during the kids’ nap times.
3. Helping more around the house…My wife and I never had an agreed upon set of chores that she does or I do, but we’ve found that we compliment each other well in what each of us likes/dislikes doing. For example, I always take out the trash and do dishes most of the time. We both vacuum and while I usually start the laundry, she likes folding it (one of my least favorite activities). But now that I’m home more, I’m able to contribute more and make her life a little easier by cooking and cleaning more frequently. And when I’m not doing those things, I can play with my son (which makes it easier for her to do what she wants).
4. Getting caught up on shows…Honestly, I haven’t watched very many t.v. shows in the past four or five years. The only shows I watched were Game of Thrones and Westworld. All of my other free time was spent trying to be more productive (reading, working, listening to podcasts/audiobooks, or exercising). But I can only read so much before I want to fall asleep. Or I can only exercise so much now before my body feels like it will break. So what can I do? Get caught up with shows like The Mandalorian on Disney Plus. It’s excellent and I’d highly recommend it.
5. Not taking having a job for granted…People complain about their jobs all the time and some people even get a case of the “Sunday Blues” when they think of going back to work after a couple days off. But working gives you purpose. It helps you feel like you’re accomplishing something, and that you’re contributing to something greater than just yourself. Volunteering does the same thing. But with this quarantine, being stuck inside and isolating ourselves from our friends, we don’t get to feel that normal sense of purpose anymore. This is why I enjoy working. Even though it can be stressful at times, a life without stress would be boring. If you had to rate each day of your life on a scale of 1-10, it’s the low days (1’s-4’s) that really make you appreciate the average days (5’s-7’s). And without those low days, the high days (8’s-10’s) might not even be possible.
In closing, those are just a few positive takeaways from my “quarantine” so far. What are some of yours?