Silver Lining

Time…more time…making time…time is ticking away…tick tock…time with family, time with nature, time outdoors, time at home, time with pets, time to reflect, time to be present, time to be in the moment, time to exercise, time to find faith, time to read, time to write, time to focus, time to pause, and…time to hit the reset button.

Amidst all the news of pain and suffering can we find the silver lining in the changes that have been forced upon us? Can we find the opportunities that are buried deep down in loss and tragedy? We should ask ourselves during this quarantine where have we been putting our time, talents, and energy?

Wikipedia will tell us that the common expression “every cloud has a silver lining” is a metaphor in the English language that means that even the worst events or situations have some positive aspect. We use this term when we want to emphasize the hopeful side of a situation that may seem bleak on the surface.

I have already seen the silver lining that has taken root during the Coronavirus pandemic and all the new ways people are finding to connect and help each other around the world. They range from the neighborhood delivery services that have sprung up to distribute groceries to people who can’t get out, to scenes from the movie “Stand by Me” with swarms of kids riding their bikes all around the streets and parks to parents strolling their babies and pet owners walking their fur babies. Less commuting, less running around for pointless excursions, more gardening projects, more long walks, and more sitting on the front porch.

Isn’t it ironic that a global health crisis is forcing us to go back to the basics, to take a look inward at what’s really deep down. I guess it’s because times like these make us forget how fragile, delicate, and unpredictable life can be. The only guarantee is the here and now, right this minute. The future is uncertain. It is definitely a time of reflection and re-prioritizing. We have to savor the present, and the chance to create a future we desire, not just the one that has evolved for us.

The habits we have developed over the years are not always healthy or productive. So now is the time to break bad and create good. With that being said, we should stop being busy for the sake of being busy, and stop wastefully depleting our time, energy, and resources. My fear is that post pandemic life will return us to chaos. I hope we try not to rush to re-create busy. Try to keep the positive new formed habits developed during the quarantine and weave them into your new normal. Have the resolve to keep them going after our collective and individual reset. Adopt and infuse the silver lining mentality into the fabric of our daily lives moving forward.

I am also hearing a sense of guilt from many; that having too much time for yourself is a bad thing amidst this tragedy. It shouldn’t be a guilty pleasure…it’s actually a coping mechanism, a survival skill, a way to lower stress, anxiety, worry, fear, a healthy adaptation process. What else is more important, valuable, and sensible right now? When I asked my husband what his biggest concern is at the present time he said…”Football season better not be cancelled.”

I’m always asking myself, can I find the “Confetti” and learn and grow from this in a remarkable way, or succumb to doom and gloom. This is a time of big challenges and trials. We are being put to the test for sure. People are sick and dying worldwide, losing their jobs and businesses, and social distancing has made us socially isolated. So much to deal with it is overwhelming to even put this into words. But, amidst all these challenges, there is a lot to learn. There is a lot of learning available to us if we can take on a gratitude mindset.

This pandemic is a worldwide event that has been painful for all of us. But these experiences can also bring out unexpected positive changes. Here are a few of my silver lining 🎉Confetti’s that I have learned through this unprecedented time in history.

🎉You are stronger than you thought you were.

🎉You get a sense of clarity on what you want in life.

🎉You find joy in unexpected places (especially when those cardinal birds come to visit).

🎉You become more compassionate and empathetic and less judgmental.

🎉You learn to embrace and cherish alone time.

🎉You simplify what was once complicated.

I will always choose to get back up no matter how many times life knocks me down. I’m trying to focus on what I do have control over and be grateful for what I have. Let’s commit to find the silver lining in this Covid-19 twilight zone space and place that we are currently in. I know there is one.