Finding Gratitude During COVID-19

I’m sure most people are tired of hearing (or rather reading) about COVID-19, quarantine, social distancing, etc., but the other day, I had to check myself real quick. I will admit, I’m a homebody at heart, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go outside. I was a little overwhelmed with all the digital learning my boys had to do. I felt like a failure because it seemed like I couldn’t figure out new ways to keep my kids entertained. I’ve also been going through a major creative block that has been infuriating. I mean, you would think I would have so many ideas for my writing and art projects, but it’s been a struggle. I realized I kept focusing on the negative and not enough on the positive. 

So while I took some time for myself, I decided to relax and focus on the good things. I chose to focus on gratitude. There are so many things I’m currently thankful for, but below are the top six things that came to mind.

Curbside Pickup

As we are all practicing social distancing, being able to order groceries and other items online and then pick it up without going inside the store has been a lifesaver. I’ve been using Target’s Drive Up, and it’s been so convenient. I’ve never had to wait too long to get my items brought to me. I love that more stores are offering curbside pickup. 

My kids’ teachers 

I’ve always been grateful for my kids’ teachers (really all teachers). However, I’ve been even more thankful for them now. I have two sons in elementary school, and I can’t even imagine teaching over 20 kids. My sons’ teachers have gone above what they have to do. They’ve offered extra Zoom lessons, lots of emails, and they’ve been so encouraging to both students and their parents. 

Social Media

Since we can’t meet up with friends and family, social media has been a great tool to catch up with them. Hilarious memes, videos (still figuring out what TikTok is), and stories have been keeping me amused.

Essential Workers

I’m so grateful for all of the essential workers. These people are out working and are putting their health and lives at risk. So many of these workers are working extra hours and doing extra work all while making customers’ lives easier. From first responders to teachers to grocery store employees, they are on the front lines and are still there for us. They deserve to get paid more and have more benefits.

My Kindle

One of the good things that has come from the pandemic is I’ve been reading a lot. I’ve crushed my reading goal for the year. I received a Kindle as a gift at the beginning of the year. I have been putting it to good use. It’s just one of the things that has brought me comfort while being home.

Small Businesses

I’m so grateful for small businesses and small business owners. So many small businesses are going through a hard time. I’ve been trying to do my part and buying from them before going to big-box stores. 

How have you been coping during this time? What are you currently grateful for today?