The Covid-19 pandemic is a serious problem, and it’s touched me in a personal way. My mother ended up spending 32 days in a hospital with back surgery during the height of the Covid-19 crisis. It was nerve-racking, but I thank God she’s back home. As of this writing, however, I’m not allowed to visit her yet.
My family has been living under strict lockdown orders for 61 days. I am a hyperactive person, and I found it suffocating in the beginning. The Covid-19 is the singular event in my life that had the potential to turn me into a couch potato. I indulged on Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube TV, watching grotesque but exotic shows like Tiger King to the reruns of the old classics like The Godfather. I’ve had to get creative, but so far, I’ve managed to keep myself busy. After experiencing frustration, boredom, and a degree of fear, I’ve come across some silver linings.
First, I discovered that my kid could and even learned to like leftover food. Who knew? In the early days of the lockdown, there were days when their choices were to eat canned food or two-week-old leftovers. It was leftovers, hands down. They eat a lot and are picky about what they eat, so they began cooking most of the meals for the family, using a combination of some old family recipes and the ones they found online. I love the countless hours I get to spend with them in my kitchen, learning all about their lives—their triumphs, disappointments, and dreams. What a blessing!
Second, my twenty-something kids, my quarantine partners, realized that they had a lot in common with their parents. We are all quite disciplined and passionate about our work and didn’t get in each other’s way while working remotely.
We can all appreciate a great movie or hate the random injustice when we see it. For example, we all thought that the Netflix show, Tiger King, was pretty messed up. I had no idea that there are more tigers in captivity in America than all the wild tigers worldwide. That’s wrong. So, we found something that we can agree on. Yay! By the way, we also decided that Carol Baskin killed her husband, but we disagreed on how she did it. That’s progress. Agreeing to disagree is a beautiful thing. There is hope for peace in the world.
Third, I no longer had to imagine what life was like “back in the day,” when there was no traffic in Los Angeles and when everyone knew everyone, blah blah blah. These days, there is no traffic, and it’s a joy to drive down Coast Highway, which hugs the stunning Pacific Ocean. Not sure if this is just my imagination, but the air feels lighter and the beaches look cleaner than before. I chat with my neighbors at length on my daily walks around the neighborhood. We no longer discuss the latest fashion trends, the hottest restaurants, or the glitzy international vacation hot spots to visit this summer. Instead, our priorities are now centered on necessities, like toilet paper, hand sanitizers, and flour. Apparently, everyone has the ability to simplify their lives.
Fourth, I had plenty of time to reflect on my relationships. I was able to phone and thank each person who came into my life to make it so much better. I’ve been able to connect with friends and family whom I’ve previously only communicated with via social media or annual Christmas cards. Many friends from far and near have called me out of concern for my family and me. I’ve reached out to quite a few to check up on them as well. Then I began to wonder why we didn’t do this more often before the pandemic. Life is so fragile and can be cut short at any time, but each of us can try our best to make it beautiful. I’ve been blessed with some amazing people in my life who keep me inspired and optimistic, no matter what. They help me stay grounded and sane. While we are on the subject of health, physical and mental, I must mention that there are so many free online classes on yoga, pilates, and boxing. Most have an element of positivity dealing with inner beauty and strength. Did I mention that they are free?
Lastly, I’m hopeful that there is a rainbow on the other side. Let’s face it. We are going to have to look out for each other. By definition, a pandemic hits everyone around the world, and it will be up to us to help make the world a better place. As a society, health is no longer a luxury for the wealthy—it’s a necessity for everyone. The one thing that this pandemic taught us is that we are truly only as strong as our weakest link. We need to lift those who need help every now and then. I am inspired to do my part.
