Pandemic Life Lessons

The life lessons during the pandemic were not just about health. Pandemic life lessons included priorities, relationships and mental health. Many died and denial ran amok. There was a lot of suffering as many were economically affected, faced with food shortages, and focused on survival. Society’s most vulnerable were put at risk. Unfortunately, people who struggled with mental health sometimes worsened. Others, especially those with “means,” did just fine.

Service providers suffered greatly and those who were already struggling to make ends meet faced an impossible situation. As countries opened back up, the pressure slowly eased up but it took years to recuperate losses. In fact, many people lost loved ones, and others social distanced until the vaccine was available. The anti-vaxxer movement resurfaced and this happened in past pandemics. Life was one big mess.

Lessons Learned

We’ve learned to adapt. Survival is about adaptability. Of course, adaptability is not always in our control in times of hardship. We all grieved but those refused accepting the loss of our “normal,” were more affected than those who practiced acceptance and perspective. Our children had to adapt with pandemic school closures.

We’ve reevaluated our lives. I’ve worked hard at carving out some happiness for my kids and shifting my focus. We made some tough decisions, closed down our office and put some of our more risky projects on hold. I’ve doubled down at work, focused on helping those in need, and started to plan out my days and weekends more. I have made more of an effort and stopped worrying about superficial things.

We’ve redefined our friendships. Some friends became angry, looking for someone to blame. Others became withdrawn and reclusive. Then there were the friends who started working out every day, because that was the one thing they COULD control, almost like a physical virus insurance policy. Introverts told me that not much changed in their lives. Some were supportive and many others were not. Loving friendships became stronger. Covid changed me.

We’ve became less wasteful. Would there be a food shortage? Could we limit trips to the grocery store? When we grew up, I remember my mother buying cans of frozen orange juice concentrate. I don’t know when and why I didn’t practice this as an adult. Do you know how much CHEAPER those cans are than buying a carton of orange juice? Oh, and what food stretches, and for how long? How did my mother make a huge Italian meal for five people with only two cans of crushed tomatoes? Let me try it. Those apples are getting old? I’m making an apple crisp. Those potatoes are a bit soft? I making mashed potatoes. Why did I waste so much before this crisis? When others are going without, how can I live my life that way?

We’ve put life into perspective. My grandmother used to say that if you don’t have your health then you’ve got nothing. I took social distancing very seriously and continue to do so. After weeks of baking, I became serious about health and exercise. I’ve ventured out more now but always with a mask and always with kindness and consideration for others. My friend Cynthia started picking up food for the local food bank. She went from house-to-house collecting food for those who need it due to this pandemic. She made it easy for us to help. Decisions were being made with a perspective. I let go of judgments. How people handled this pandemic, how they handled social distancing is none of my business.

We learned acceptance. I feared that more tough times are yet to come. Will my child be educated in the fall? What will it look like? When we come out of this on the other side, what will your new normal look like? We needed to accept things that were out of our control My new normal included the love for my family, the importance of true friends, and the practice of gratitude for every single day that I get to live on this beautiful place called Earth.

We now know what is in our control. There are things that you can do to stay healthy. You can wear a mask. You can wash your hands and you can limit your exposure to this virus. In the end, there are more steps you can take than you realize. You can control your exposure to the vitriol on social media and the news. You can control how you live each day. Stay safe and sane. Live with intention and purpose.

Ongoing Struggles

I know that things sometimes seem bleak but I believe in the strength and resilience of the human spirit. Do your part, take precautions and continue to do your very best. Life is too short and we have woken up to this very obvious reality. Don’t waste another second and live every moment.

Note: I know that many people are still struggling . I implore you to reach out to your local food banks, places of worship, and your community. You do not have to be alone. To find your local food bank you can click here. An article in USA Today outlined additional resources that can help during any time of difficulty.