It was one year ago this month that coronavirus took over the world and changed life as we know it. Of course, the virus had been spreading for several months prior, but it was on March 11, 2020 that the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. That same day, two Utah Jazz players tested positive for the virus and the NBA abruptly suspended their season. Then the dominoes really began to fall: libraries in Utah closed overnight; our governor put all public schools on a two-week 'soft closure' that ended up lasting for the rest of the school year; church services were suspended; 'non-essential' businesses closed; countries around the world went on lockdown; the Tokyo Summer Games were postponed until 2021. Even the Scripps National Spelling Bee was cancelled.
Talk about March madness!
As pandemic life became our new reality, I started sewing masks for me and my family and we all hunkered down in our homes. Trips to the grocery store became stressful games of grocery roulette--what will, or won't, be on the shelves this week? Eggs, but no bread. Yogurt or yeast? Go fish! And, as I'm sure you all remember, toilet paper got very scarce. (Although I'm still not quite sure why.) And suddenly the majority of life moved online.
I'm sure you have as many vivid memories of everything that happened last March as I do. I just wish I had an equal number of insightful life lessons that I've learned from living through a pandemic. But I don't. Unless you count these:
- Reading about a worldwide pandemic is much more fun that living through one!
- Stay positive--nothing bad lasts forever. (It just feels like it does.)
- Forget yourself and do something for someone else. A little kindness goes a long way.
- Gratitude is key!
- And always have an extra pack of toilet paper on hand just in case.
What life lessons have you learned from living through a global pandemic this past year?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Growing up people used to say that no matter how bad things got for you there was always someone worse off. And I've found this to be true. So while we've had the Pandemic I've thought a lot about what our countries went through in WW1 and WW2. It was truly terrible and while this has been pretty bad it doesn't compare to being carted off in the middle of the night to a concentration camp because you're Jewish and seeing your whole family die in a gas chamber. It doesn't compare to losing four or five sons in the trenches of WW1 or in the skies over the English Channel in WW2. It doesn't compare to the Nazis killing a whole village of French people in retalliation for Resistance activity. I suppose what I'm saying - rather long-windedly - is that I count my blessings, things could be an 'awful' lot worse. You're right, Lark, 'Gratitude is the key'
ReplyDeleteThat kind of perspective you talk about is so important. What we're going through certainly isn't as bad as it got during WWII. We've been much more blessed through this experience, haven't we? Especially with the way they developed so many vaccines so quickly.
DeleteLike everyone else, priorities needed to be re-examined. It is interesting (both at the time and in review) to see who adapted well and who didn't. Flexibility and the ability to adapt to change is always important, and there were many who were absolutely unable to adapt to the situation. As Cath mentions people have had to confront terrible and deliberate horrors in the past and in the present, and I was surprised to see how many people were willing to endanger others.
ReplyDeletePersonally, the pandemic did make me count my blessings, but it also opened my eyes about how people react in a crisis. There were so many that were helpful and gracious and supportive. I had a new appreciation of community...but there were more who refused to work for the common good than I would have expected.
This pandemic has really shown people's true colors, hasn't it? I want to be on the side of the positive and kind people, not the angry and selfish ones.
DeleteI was already worried about the virus as soon as I heard about it in January. I was following the story online when it was barely being mentioned. It was when the cruise ship cases started making the news that the media finally took notice of it. I never rely on mainstream news channels for all that is happening in the world as other sites were reporting a problem in mid January.
ReplyDeleteI remember cutting out newspaper articles last December and January about the strange new illness in China that was kind of like pneumonia, but not...so I was following it as it started to spread, too. It was scary to watch it unfold.
DeleteIt feels a bit surreal that it was a year ago that all this started. I still can't believe that out of all the things for people to panic-buy, it was toilet paper. I definitely buy an extra pack now, just in case, though, lol.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to take things day by day and count my blessings more. Even the small ones. That really seems to help the anxiety and stress. And it's been nice spending more time with my family.
Counting your blessings is a good thing to do. I've been trying to do that more, too. :)
DeleteIt's been such a strange year and it feels like it's been so much longer than a year!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely been a very long year...and at the same time it sometimes feels like March of 2020 never really ended and we're still in it.
DeleteGreat post: Staying positive, gratitude, and patience! are what we all need.
ReplyDeleteAnd a little chocolate every now and then, too! ;D
DeleteI've definitely learned to appreciate the little things and not take connecting with friends and family for granted. My grandparents have had the first round of the vaccine, so I'm looking forward to a month from now or so when we can finally meet in person again.
ReplyDeleteYay for your grandparents! I'm looking forward to getting together again with my family in the near future, too. I've missed those family game nights. :)
DeleteA year ago we had no idea just how bad it was going to get.
ReplyDeleteWe really didn't, did we? It's crazy to think of everything we've gone through in just one year.
DeleteThanks so much for this great reminder! COVID has made a lot of things uncertain, but at the same time I've been super blessed through this. So I guess something I hope I've learned is to be more humble about what I'm uncertain about, and be thankful for everything I DO still have.
ReplyDeleteBeing humble and grateful are so important in getting through hard things! Faith and prayer help, too. :)
DeleteHi Lark, Very good post and I agree with all your life lessons. One change I'd like to see is better healthcare. A situation where anyone who wants insurance can get it at an affordable rate. And then there are the more personal life lessons. I know I said I was going to make alot of changes after 9/11. We all did and some really went through with their plans but most of us didn't. And so this time I must sit myself down and pick one or two ways I really need to change my life and this time stick to it. We can't forget this time we lived through.
ReplyDeleteI didn't make many changes in my life either this past year. I thought about it. But I was too stressed out and anxious most of the time to even think about starting something new. I hope to do better this year. :)
DeleteThat's a great post, Lark! This pandemic has definitely remind us not to take things for granted and appreciate the things we have - be it people or things. This pandemic also allows us to see the good and the bad side of people. Nevertheless, this circumstances has certainly makes me think a lot of things and be appreciative in general. Our lives are certainly not the same as before again, and we've to learn to adapt and change.
ReplyDeleteWe do need to learn to adapt and change. I doubt this is going to be the last pandemic we experience. I hope I'm better prepared for the next one.
DeleteYour last one made me laugh out loud. But yes, those are some pretty interesting life lessons. In terms of office work, I'd like to add that not having to travel and using Zoom meetings instead saves a lot of time. But then working from home has its disadvantages too, so can't say I "learnt" anything from that. :-(
ReplyDelete~ Lex (lexlingua.co)
I don't feel like I learned as much as I could have in 2020. But life is a journey, so maybe I'll do better this year. :)
DeleteIt feels callous to say it because so many people's lives have been irrevocably changed because of COVID, but mine has not actually changed in any huge ways. Other than cancelled plans (including my daughter's high school graduation and some planned trips), I've gained more than I've lost - in terms of time spent with family, perspective, health, etc. I've learned the value of being prepared (I have always bought a large pack of t.p. every time I go to Costco, just in case, and that habit definitely paid off in 2020), of helping others, and of being calm even in the face of chaos. I agree with all of the lessons you learned as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Susan! I too have gained more appreciation for family, and the gospel, and being prepared, and have been grateful for my food storage more than once this year. Perspective is also key! :)
DeleteI love this post, Lark! Can't believe this all started a year ago, but I'm looking forward to getting back to normal. I still can't fathom the grocery store antics. How so many things sold out and some are still hard to get. Yep, it's all how you look at things and a little kindness and gratitude go a long way.
ReplyDeleteHaving grown up here in America in relatively prosperous times, I've never experienced grocery store shortages like that. It was so crazy! But then, everything about 2020 was pretty crazy.
DeleteGreat post Lark - I love your pandemic thoughts, especially ....
ReplyDelete"Forget yourself and do something for someone else. A little kindness goes a long way."
I know for me, that if I get out of my own head and start thinking of others and trying to do something nice for other people around me, that I end up feeling happier and more positive about life myself. A little kindness really does go a long way. :)
DeleteWhat a year we've lived through right? This was such a good post and despite all awful things about this pandemic, I agree it's so important to remember to be kind, thankful and hopeful! And, yes, to having extra toilet paper!
ReplyDelete:D It has been a very memorable year...and not always in a good way. But we've managed to get through it, and hopefully there are better times ahead for everyone! :)
DeleteCount your blessings and having gratitude are two big ones.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal life, I know I got into gardening in more depth in the last year because of the pandemic. On the other hand, I certainly did not declutter the house as I had planned to when I retired, I just could not get into that. So all that clutter is still there.
I remember the event(s) that convinced me the pandemic was for real... when all the sports shut down within 2 or 3 days. I had not watched sports for fifteen years but I still knew that was only going to happen if things were really, really bad.
I think the whole NBA thing made it feel very real and very close to home, at least for me. And I don't even watch basketball.
Delete"Reading about a worldwide pandemic is much more fun that living through one!" So true!!! And stay positive- so true as well. It makes a huge difference. I had to laugh at the toilet paper one too! :)
ReplyDeleteI remember those scary early days as well, when it was terrifying just thinking of going to the store. What if I catch the virus? And all the people who have suffered... :(.
It was scary to go to the store! And watching the growing number of cases across the world...and the growing number of deaths! It's something I will never forget.
DeleteIt is so true that the memories from the time that it happened are so vivid. I remember just when it started to hit hard here in NY I started to feel sick. Over the course of a weekend I got sicker and sicker and was running a fever. Doctors were not even supposed to see people with symptoms at that point but my doctor took me in that Monday . Turns out I had the regular flu. I will never forget that flu!
ReplyDeleteI have really been lucky throughout this whole thing. So any people have not been so fortunate.
I'm glad it was just the flu! When I started back to work last August, every time I coughed or felt a little unwell I feared I might covid. But I've been fortunate in that regard, too, and have managed to stay well throughout this pandemic.
DeleteIt's been quite a ride, for sure. I think that we have all learned a lot about what is important and what is not than we ever dreamed we would be learning. Honestly, despite all the griping and resistance that ensued, I think we've done pretty well in this country - and around the world, for the most part - to adapt to our situation.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about the date this week because I bought a new car on March 10, 2020. We were already aware, of course, what was going on but no one was wearing a mask yet. The next day when I went to pick up the car, I could tell that everyone there was much more nervous than they were just the day before. The awareness of what we were facing was starting to sink in.
Now, one year later, I have only put 4,508 miles on the new car. That's less than one-third the amount of miles I put on a vehicle in a normal year. Heck, I'm just getting my first oil change on the car next week. At this rate the car is going to last forever. :-)
We sure didn't do a lot of driving last year, did we? My own road trip to Oregon last summer got cancelled, so I hardly put any miles on my own car. But you're right, as a whole, we've survived this past year fairly well.
DeleteI never ran out of toilet paper! So crazy. But the experience has made me more careful about just generally keeping a certain amount of dry and canned goods on hand at all times. Plus, because I don't go into work and eat lunch in a cafeteria every day, I've had to do a lot more cooking for meals at home, which has been challenging, but also fun.
ReplyDeleteWe never ran out of toilet paper either, but the stores around us did. I try to have a three months supply of the basics at all times in my pantry, and I was really grateful for that last year. :)
DeleteI can’t believe it’s a year. I remember hearing about the first cases in China and at that point it was causing troubles for getting parts in for my work from the region, never thinking that was only the beginning. Then hearing about the first cases in the UK followed a few weeks later by Boris locking us all down. It was frightening walking out of work on the Monday, I didn’t know that would be the last time. I don’t think things will go back to normal but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm very grateful for that light. I just wish we were more on top of all the variants, and that we knew for sure the end of this pandemic is in sight.
DeleteWe'd have more toilet paper in the house now if I did the grocery shopping. LOL Probably for the rest of our lives.
ReplyDeleteBefore this all started I was feeling overwhelmed and pulled in every direction and then I found out it could get worse. While on one hand there was some slowing down, mostly there wasn't for me and my family. The helplessness and fear didn't help. Picking up a new skill or spending time on a neglected project? Still no time. I definitely no longer take for granted things I used to. My family and I have been so lucky. We still have jobs and our health (mostly)--our lives. Settling into and adjusting to virtual learning in regards to my daughter was a huge challenge and stressor--and learning to navigate working full-time while trying to assist her at the same time. We're in a better place now, but it was so hard for those first few months. So many tears shed by all parties. I didn't miss seeing extended family as much as I thought I would. It was kind of easy on that front, having a legitimate excuse to let go of those obligations. My husband and I are more hermit-like than we thought. LOL
I'm sure I learned a lot in this pandemic, but honestly, nothing that could be called a revelation.
It's been a hard, stressful year for me, too. But I didn't mind not having to host everyone for Thanksgiving this year. I liked keeping it small and just our household. And I was lucky in that I didn't lose my job...although returning to school in the fall added a whole other level of stress. But we made it through. And everything's looking up now. :)
Delete