Coronavirus: The Silver Lining
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. – Charles R. Swindoll
Hearing of all the illness and death from this horrible Pandemic is so discouraging. Day in and Day out, we stay in our homes, locked away from the world as we knew it, bored, scared, lonely and have no clear idea when or if this will ever end.
I think there is a silver lining. I really wanted to share what I’ve been hearing in the hope that it might help you feel there is one too.
It is no secret, especially as Americans, we are wrought with busy, busy, busy, do, do, do. Our schedules are overrun with work and errands and even our vacations often seem to be jam packed with activities. If we really looked at our kids, we would recognize the signs of “lack of boredom”. Many are tired from being overscheduled, stressed and dare I say, without offending anyone, overweight.
Before this age of over schedule and electronics–from TV’s to computers to video games, we actually WERE bored. I remember days as a child with nothing to do…days filled with playing outside with my neighbors and making dolls out of flowers….sounds romantic but I was that bored!!
And honestly, who can blame kids (or adults for that matter). If we had an abundance of computers and video games when we were young, we likely would have done the same.
Just having a PC now allows me to get more done in less time-which frees up more time….to add in more stuff to do. So honestly, the problem here isn’t electronics. It’s us.
Between our over extended schedules and being addicted to too many electronics, we’ve gotten to the point where the new generation (and even some of the older) have no idea what it means to slow down. To be bored.
Since the quarantine, I’m hearing more and more about families playing games together, cooking together, sitting down for family meals, reading books, going on walks together.
The interesting thing is this didn’t stem from a shift in thinking, but rather out of sheer boredom and an abundance of time! We’ve been forced to turn back to the good old days. And the result? We feel more calm. We feel more connected with our family. We feel at Peace.
How is this affecting our businesses? It is a sad fact that many small business will have to close their doors. Yet fortunately, others are finding clever and innovative ways to bring assistance and help to those affected.
Whether it’s a mom and pop restaurant serving curbside family style meals or a photographer in the neighborhood offering a free service of taking “Porch Portraits” (from a safe distance, of course!) I’ve seen old fashioned drive-in movies take off again and a friend whose Karaoke business is obviously taking a bit of a dive–offering hope in the form of “Quarantune”–an online Facebook Karaoke community–tagging others and allowing those “Karaoke Stars” to share their singing gifts on Facebook.
Just the other day in my neighborhood, we had a little birthday parade of residents in fun cars, motorcycles and golf carts. To brighten the birthday for the kids who wouldn’t be able celebrate with others. Neighbors out on their porches waving at the parade entourage and each other.
Our children’s teachers are finding ways to connect with their students, providing lunches or a video call to keep them connected with their classmates. Offering online games and show and tell. This is huge for the moral of the kids. All so creative.
You know what we’re finding? My kids have realized they actually DO like school! I’m realizing they are more self starters than I thought. And our family is realizing, we like to paint, to draw, to cook, to play games, to watch movies and to take a nap in the middle of the day. However, we still don’t like cleaning or homework-ha.
What could be the worst thing that has happened to us in a while can actually have a consequence that changes us for this and future generations. (Please know, those who have lost loved ones, we are lifting you up in prayer, and not in any way diminishing what you’ve gone through).
There is a silver lining, though, one of hope and encouragement. One where we learn Family and quality time with Friends is most important. One where we learn that busy isn’t best, that old fashioned values of caring for others, waving at our neighbors, supporting small business and finding joy in connection and simple living is so special. Where being bored cultivates creativity.
So if this time in history will later be known as the time of the great “Reversion” wouldn’t that be a really good thing? A silver lining? We are here anyway. We are in the house, locked away from the world as we knew it….I hope we keep these new practices and become better, more grateful and appreciative parents, friends, neighbors and citizens in the process.
