This is a guest post by Emma Grace Brown
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and changed the lives of people in many ways. We were forced to make many adaptations in our daily routines to survive. Most of them, like forced business closures, had a negative impact, but some had silver linings. Moving forward, we are confronted with the decision to either go back to what our lives were pre-pandemic or embrace the positive changes that the pandemic forced upon us.
The smart thing would be to embrace the positive changes and discard what the pandemic proved to be unnecessary. As the vaccine rollout continues and a sense of normalcy returns, let’s hope for a brighter future in which lessons from the pandemic persist, and positive adaptations are made permanent.
Finding happiness in quiet and solitude
When the governments directed everyone to stay at home, many groaned and moaned, but with time, they developed an appreciation for staying at home. Those with families realized that it gave them an opportunity to spend precious time with those they loved. A chance to slow down after a lifetime of chasing dreams gave career men and women perspective about what really mattered in life.
People who had previously been extremely busy all year round stopped to smell the roses. The streets were empty, and the buzz in the cities quieted down, giving many an appreciation for quiet and solitude. The resulting introspection helped many grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Moving forward, we can only hope that people will not get back to their daily grind and forget the value of finding some quiet time every so often.
Supporting Local Businesses
At the height of the pandemic, when businesses were forced to shut down, small and medium enterprises were hit the hardest. Unlike big corporations, they could not survive closing their doors for weeks while still paying rent. Government rescue packages came in too late, and they did little to help local businesses get back on their feet. As people stayed at home and had everything delivered to their doorstep, they did not realize that it harmed their neighbors who operated local businesses until it was too late.
The rallying cry to buy local and salvage what was left of the struggling business came a bit too late for many, and they did not survive. The few that survived now act as a reminder to support local businesses so that our neighbors and their families do not go hungry. (side note from Jeanine … I have a group that started meeting every Friday on our front porches during the pandemic and ordered dinner from our local restaurants. We continue to do it every Friday and feel good about the contribution we’re making to our local economy.)
Shifting Careers
Layoffs and furloughs in numbers not seen since the Great Depression meant that many households struggled for months to meet their basic needs. Many were forced to find alternative ways to earn a living. Business ideas were born, and startups were launched from home, especially after people realized the many benefits of working from home.
Prioritizing self-care
To cope with all the negative effects of the pandemic, many people took up self-care routines such as regular exercises, meditation, spending time in nature, healthy eating habits, yoga, and many more. Physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health was prioritized as a coping strategy. A return to normalcy should not tempt people to go back to their unhealthy routines and habits.
Final thoughts
The COVID-19 pandemic made us change, adapt, and adjust to the new way of life. Let’s use some of those positive lessons to enrich our lives moving forward … and let’s hope our lives get back to a new, better, normal soon!
Emma Grace Brown lives her life by her rules; and it works! She promotes female empowerment through her website, EmmaGraceBrown.com. Her mission is to help those who live with self-doubt to realize they don’t have to mold themselves to conventionality – she goes by the philosophy “My Life. My Rules.“
Thanks for your insightful contribution to my blog Emma!
How can it be December already?!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
