Finding the Positive in Spite of a Global Pandemic

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finding the positive

Recent global events, specifically the coronavirus, have drastically changed the way people are living their everyday lives. We have gone from having the freedom to be able to go to work, go grocery shopping, visit our family and friends, celebrate birthdays, and take our children to school or activities to staying home. Over a matter of just a few short weeks, those luxuries are a thing of the past, and we are being told to stay at home to slow down the spread of this incredible virus. Fear, panic, anxiety, uncertainty, and boredom have undoubtedly set in. 

I’m here to tell you that we CAN, and we MUST be able to find the positive in all of this. I know, it sounds SO crazy. How can we find the positive in a global virus, especially when this virus is killing people, putting people’s lives at risk, taking away our fundamental freedoms, and causing the economy to tank?

I’m telling you this because it’s the only thing I know how to do right now; to share how I choose to look on the bright side because this is what is helping me and my family get through each day.

My family and I have a new appreciation for what spending quality time together means. We don’t have the pressure of having to get out of the door on time to get to school. We aren’t always rushing to the next activity, and we aren’t crazed about our weekly schedule and routine. We get to stay at home, appreciate each other, and JUST BE.

My family is what keeps me going. My family is my light despite this darkness. In fact…

We get to be home in this together.

We get to have party picnics on the living room floor and dinosaur stuffed animal fights on the regular.

We get to stay up late and sleep in.

We get to watch way too much television.

We get to paint with glitter paint, go on scavenger hunts, and play with bubbles inside.

We get to experiment in the kitchen and come up with creative meals, like our very own episode of Chopped.

We get to FaceTime our grandparents, cousins, and friends any time we want to just check-in.

We get to write inspirational messages in chalk on the sidewalk in hopes of lifting someone’s spirits.

We get to order takeout without feeling guilty because it is helping the community businesses stay afloat.

We get to witness our community come together by donating or making masks to give out to the essential personnel.

I know some of this seems trivial right now, and don’t get me wrong; I am scared. I worry about what this pandemic means for our weeks and months ahead. I firmly believe that staying inside and social distancing is the best thing for us right now, however difficult that may be. 

However, in spite of the harsh realities, I urge you to find the light within your own darkness. If you are having a hardship or a really tough day, I am not minimizing that. Be mad. Be angry. Be fearful. Cry. Feel lonely. Reach out to someone if you need to. We’ve all been there. But then, pick up your head and look for something to keep you going. This is what keeps me going right now. 

What is it that keeps you and your family going?

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore

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Catherine
Catherine lives in the Crestwood section of Yonkers. She and her husband moved there in 2015 from the Bronx shortly after they married to start their family. Catherine is the mom to three boys, making her well-versed in anything baseball, dinosaur, or car-related. Before kids, Catherine studied at Pace University to become a Registered Nurse. Catherine has worked in several hospital settings over the past decade and now finds herself in the next phase of life, returning to work full-time since all her kids are in school. When she is not working or spending time with her family, she can be found out for a run or painting and refinishing furniture in her home. Catherine even has a fun Instagram account - @thefurniture_rn. Navigating life as a boy mom has presented many joys, challenges, and laughs! She looks forward to connecting with you and sharing her experiences.

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