12 Things to Be Thankful for in the Age of Coronavirus

Yesterday I took a walk through Coral Gables, Florida. More than once, I had to draw on my inner strength to avoid losing my composure.

We are allowed outside here in Miami, but all non-essential businesses are closed down (as they should be), and we are all staying over 6 feet away from each other. I’ve been through more than one hurricane. But I’ve never seen anything like this. An eerie and surreal scene, the streets are desolate and the stores are closed.

We are living through a difficult time. Still, while I believe in acknowledging and understanding the dark clouds, we also have to see their silver lining. And that’s what I want to focus on now – what we can be thankful for during these tough times.

Let’s take a look at some of the good things, and keep our chin up! This will pass.

12 Things to Be Thankful For in the Age of Coronavirus

Before we start, let me just say that I know that not everyone has all of these things. But still, we can be thankful for those we have.

Instant Access to the World’s Music, Film, TV, Literature, and Video Games

Unlike any prior pandemic, we now have the internet. This means we can listen to music, watch movies and TV, and play video games. We can entertain ourselves – and entertainment is necessary.

From my hurricane experience, I can tell you that it absolutely sucks to be at home with no connection to the outside world. So these days, I’m especially thankful for the internet.

Food and Item Delivery

I just had a meal delivered from a local restaurant, and I’m getting supply deliveries every day. So I think we should be thankful for that, too. I can’t imagine the sheer horror that people must have felt during the 1918 flu pandemic knowing that they had to risk their lives just to get food. Let’s be thankful that’s not the case as much anymore.

Instant News

During prior disasters, it must have been very hard to get good, reliable information. Imagine if we didn’t have the internet, TV, or even phones and radio. How would you know what’s going on? The feeling of uncertainty would be much worse.

So, I say “thank you” to the universe and those who invented and built our modern communications.

The Ability to Work From Home

We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have jobs that we can do from home. I know that that’s not the case for many. So, I urge you: if you can, help those who need it.

One option is to donate to organizations that are directly helping restaurant workers and others who are losing their jobs. Here’s a Vox article linking to some. Personally, I like the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, which is using donations as follows:

• 50% FOR DIRECT RELIEF TO INDIVIDUAL RESTAURANT WORKERS
• 25% FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING RESTAURANT WORKERS IN CRISIS
• 25% FOR ZERO-INTEREST LOANS FOR RESTAURANTS TO GET BACK UP AND RUNNING

That the Physical World is Still Largely Intact

In contrast to an earthquake, hurricane, or war, the physical world is still mostly intact. Our cities and buildings are not being destroyed. So, that’s a good thing and will help us recover.

Doctors Worldwide can Collaborate

I’m thankful that, thanks to the internet, doctors and researchers in every corner of the world can communicate instantaneously. This should help science move along far more rapidly than in the past, and these heroes can find effective treatments sooner.

We Can Help Ourselves and the Economy at the Same Time

Thanks to modern technology, we can now help both ourselves and the economy more than ever before. We can make donations, buy goods and services, and invest from the safety of our home.

This will undoubtedly reduce the economic damage, and help speed up the recovery.

Us and Our kids Can Learn Remotely

We’re not limited to the books in our home. Today, both our children and ourselves can continue our education online. We can watch lectures, take quizzes, read, and more. Let’s keep learning and bettering ourselves.

We Can Stay Connected to Friends and Family

Right now, my wife and daughter are talking to her parents in Puerto Rico by video call. We’re a bit far away, but we can see and hear each other as if we were all in the same room.

So, I thank the tech pioneers who made this possible.

We Can Dance

Have fun and exercise. I think that dancing is one of those things that heals the soul. Try it – tell Alexa to put on some tunes, grab your partner and kids, and do some dancing!

We Can Do Home Exercises

Let’s stay fit and healthy. Fire up YouTube or your treadmill and move your body. Let’s be thankful that we can do all sorts of exercise right at home, and have fun, too.

We Know that This, Too, Shall Pass

We are the toughest beings on earth. Two world wars, famines, the 1918 pandemic, the Great Depression, and many more disasters – we’re still here. We’ll get through this one soon enough.

Let’s stay safe, remember the positive in our lives, and help our fellow humans.

Stay Safe. We WILL Overcome!