Hey there,
Hope this blog post finds you and your family in good health!
No matter how bad the situation, it always has a silver lining. From the numerous bloggers I follow, I have discovered that people who try to remain optimistic during tough times, almost always are the first ones to see this silver lining.
The Lockdown has been a tough time for all of us and today on day 19 when it finally felt close to the end, there is news that it might get extended for 2 more weeks. Everyone is growing anxious and frustrated stuck together within the same walls of their homes. The concept of personal space seems to be vanishing and many have started to adapt to the sedentary lifestyle.
But if you keep the negatives aside for a few minutes and try to focus on the good things, you will be surprised how many good things the lockdown has taught us.
- Time v/s Discipline
Image: Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
We millennials been complaining about ‘not having enough time’ forever. It looks like we are finally getting our fill of ‘me time’. Many of my friends are turning into amazing cooks (And I am not talking about the Dalgona coffee) and many others are ruminating on their career choices. Some have even managed to find a roadmap to their Ikigai.
Personally, I have benefitted a lot from this extra time. I have managed to write better (500 words per day – at least 5 days a week), finish a creative writing course that I had left halfway, a year ago and managed to build a yoga routine that I have been following for the last 20 odd days (My WFH began a few days before the Lockdown was announced) without missing a single day.
This morning, I read a quote on one of the Instagram profiles that I follow. It said
“If you don’t come out of this lockdown healthier, having learnt something new and with better knowledge then you never lacked time, you lacked discipline.”
How true is this?
If you haven’t started working on something new or learning something new you still have two weeks to go. Like they say, it is never too late to start.
2. Gratitude for the little things
Image: Photo by Giftpundits.com from Pexels
I have said this before and I am saying it again. Lockdown or not, if you have food on your plate, a roof over your head and access to basic essentials like medicine and groceries, you are truly blessed. And if you live with your family then you are among the privileged.
The other thing that I feel grateful for is the Internet. I believe the Internet has played a big role in keeping people inside their homes during these times.
3. Innovation
Image: Photo by Bruno Scramgnon from Pexels
Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity – not a threat
This is now true more than ever before. People around seem to have found innovative ways to keep their daily routines intact. They have managed to transform their living rooms into make-shift gyms using chairs and water bottles for workouts. Many teachers are now working on taking online classes for their students. Music concerts and short films too are being done from their respective home. Many have found alternatives to different foods that are not available at the moment and created new recipes.
Every single person is turning into a thinker and innovator and inspiring others to do the same. Isn’ t that simply beautiful?
4. Empathy
Image: Photo by Mareks Steins from Pexels
We learnt it the hard way, but we (at least a considerable bunch) now understand the plight of animals and birds, especially the ones in the zoos and cages. Our 21 days is nothing compared to their lifelong imprisonment for no fault of theirs.
Remember this next time you pay to visit a zoo or a circus.
5. Closeness in distancing
Image: Photo by bongkarn thanyakij from Pexels
Whether out of boredom or finally having that extra time, people are now connecting with their childhood friends whom they had lost contact with a decade ago (yes, we are that old). Whatsapp groups that we did not even know existed are now active and booming with messages.
From the next-door neighbour to the friend who lives thousands of miles away, we are making effort, to connect with them and check on them during these hard times.
So there you go, not one but five silver linings to hold on to during these tough times. It is hard to stay positive all the time. It is okay to sulk sometimes. It is okay if on somedays all you can do is lie on your bed and binge-watch Netflix. But only on ‘somedays’.
It is now important, more than ever before to take care of your mental health. And we all need to make extra effort to see the good things when everything else around seems to be falling apart.
How are you holding up? What new thing did you learn today? Or what new thing did you do to make yourself smile? Tell me in the comments below. 🙂
See you soon. Until then…
Stay home. Stay safe. Stay happy.
Signing off
Ashwini
Author of Shikhandini
www.ashwinishenoy.com
Featured image: Photo by Nacho Juárez from Pexels
A very informative post Ashwini. It’s important that we improve everyday and this time we need to make use of in a constructive way. A very nice read
Thank you 🙂
I absolutely loved this blog!❤️
Talking about small things and practising the same leads to something really beautiful which I’m experiencing as well!
Thank you, Ramya 😀 Glad to know you are making good use of this time.