Check out Elephant’s Continually-updating Coronavirus Diary. ~ Waylon
~

These past few weeks, we’ve engaged in a routine of sleeping in, leisurely strolls, habitual eating, Netflix, virtual workouts, and a fair share of alcohol consumption.

Aside from a pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives worldwide, the hardship of not seeing family and friends, and the uncertainty of the world as we know it, things haven’t been all that bad.

And by that, I mean things haven’t been all that bad for the lucky ones—the ones who’ve had the benefit of not knowing the pain of losing a loved one to COVID-19, the ones who have not gone hungry one day since the outbreak, the ones who are quarantined in a safe and comfortable home and can pay their monthly bills. The ones who are not on the front lines, continually worrying whether or not they are going to contract a deadly virus or, worse, bring it home to their family.

We lucky ones, for the most part, have been able to find ways to enjoy this unfamiliar style of living—but I get that many of us don’t feel so lucky these days. No matter how good or bad you have it, you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t struggle with this pandemic in some way.

The lack of routine partnered with a non-existent social life and the monotony of each day can stifle us. Then there’s the demand to suddenly become a teacher, therapist, nutritionist, personal trainer, chef, bartender, toilet paper and paper towel hunter, and the person who is up to date on all things COVID-19. Thankfully, there are virtual happy hours, walking trails, and TikTok. The worst days are when it rains. That’s when we go into sloth mode, only moving to eat.

I know that many of us already had real problems way before the pandemic. Before the outbreak, you may have struggled with anxiety over a divorce, a failing business, family issues, financial struggles, or caring for a loved one who is sick—and that now, more than ever, you are feeling spent. Even though it might feel like it, the world has not forgotten you. It’s just fighting for survival right now. Hang in there.

This unprecedented time is downright terrifying. At any given moment, any one of us can be exposed to the virus, spike a fever, and become unlucky in the fight against COVID-19.

Many are choosing to remain in the safety of the present moment, rather than look to a fearfully undefined future. Good move. There is no telling what the outcome of this pandemic will be or how many people will fall victim to it. Attempting to predict what’s going to happen next will only pull you down a notoriously dark and dreary rabbit hole. Best to keep your thoughts focused on the now and look for that silver lining.

If you are a lucky one, you should be able to identify it more easily.

The silver lining can be found in the extra time you’ve been allotted to spend with your family, partner, or child.

It’s in the way your community has pulled together to make the best out of a bad situation (I know you saw that clip of Italians singing from their terraces).

It’s in the opportunity you now have to get in the best shape of your life.

It’s the ability to pursue some of your hobbies, read more, walk among nature, create a strategy for how to make your situation better, heal, and forgo the feeling of guilt when you decide to do absolutely nothing.

So when you feel like this pandemic is getting the best of you, remember to look for that silver lining. It can be found in the smallest of things—you just have to be lucky enough to find it.

Stay healthy and safe.