The Bright Side of the Pandemic (Let’s Hope Some of it Stays)

Even to those of us who have been used to working remotely since before the pandemic, the lockdown has created a big shift in our social lives. That feeling can be overwhelming, and as much as I can’t wait for us to be able to go back to leaving our homes without needing to wear a mask on, I realize I’ve been picking up new habits and been offered opportunities that I will forever feel thankful for.

One thing I appreciate the most, for example, is the time I get to spend with my little one that I never would have had otherwise: we get a lot more 1-on-1 time than I could’ve ever imagined, we get to go out to the park for lunch, and we even get to have a little “tickle time” during my coffee breaks. Another blessing in disguise was first put in words to me by a university student: she told me that although she hasn’t been able to socialize in big groups like university kids normally would, she’s formed such intimate relationships with the few friends she is surrounded by, especially her roommates, that she feels so lucky to have been able to bond with them in such a way that she wouldn’t have even known how to do pre-lockdown.

This made me realize that I myself have bonded with loved ones in very special ways, and even met people and had opportunities that simply would not have existed otherwise. I can confidently say that in this long social-distanced time, I’ve gotten to know myself, my friends, and my family better than I ever did before. Now, as we are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I can’t wait for the pandemic to be behind us, and to see how we as a society will have walked away from it with a newfound appreciation for the little things in life!