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Before you complain about your current COVID-19 circumstances, remind yourself that it could always be worse

Before you complain about your current COVID-19 circumstances, remind yourself that it could always be worse....


Before you complain about being stuck at home bored,
Remind yourself that there is someone else stuck at home, too, who had a special party, concert, or other social event cancelled.

But before you complain about not being able to celebrate your milestone birthday or having to cancel a vacation you planned for a year,
Remind yourself that someone else had to postpone their wedding or won't have the graduation ceremony they earned.

However, before you complain about having to miss a traditional celebration or reschedule a once-in-a-lifetime event,
Remind yourself that some people are off work without pay, wondering how they will be able to just live normally from day to day.

But before you complain about being laid off from your job temporarily,
Remind yourself that some people have lost their jobs completely. They will need to look for new work in a weakened economy.

Yet before you complain about having to look for a new job within your same industry,
Remind yourself that some people are at danger of losing their own small business and their whole livelihood that comes with it.

But before you complain about having to permanently close your business,
Remind yourself that there are people out there who will very likely lose their homes after all this is over.

However, before you complain about losing everything material you own to the coronavirus,
Remind yourself you did not lose your health or your family. There are people sick with COVID-19 out there, some who are nervously awaiting test results, and their families are terrified for their them.

But before you complain about testing positive for the virus and being self-quarantined for 14 days,
Remind yourself that there are people much sicker than you are right now, battling COVID-19 in the hospital instead of in the comfort of their home.

And before you complain about how sick COVID-19 made you and the hospital bills you will eventually receive,
Remind yourself that someone else did not pull through. They died alone in a hospital bed and are not here to tell about the life-or-death ordeal.

So before you complain about your circumstances, remember it could *almost* always be worse.

And then ask yourself, "Do I really need to be complaining about this? What is something I have right now that others don't that I can be thankful for?" (and yes, it might be as simple as toilet paper!☺)

This is a very rare time where there are actually many groups of people facing similar challenges and feeling the same emotions at the exact same time as you are. Be grateful in this digital age that we have texting, video chat, and social media to keep in touch and share in each other's lives in ways we couldn't have even just 10 years ago.
Staying home is not that much to ask.  Be thankful if you have a nice house to be in, knowing you will be physically able to live a social life again, unlike some people who are always home-ridden. Be grateful if you have to work from home or if your essential job is scheduling you with more hours. At least you have some income and are working; other people would give anything to have those hours available now.  If you are a business owner limited to curbside service or online sales, be thankful you have that option and be grateful for the income that is coming in, as limited as it is. Many one-on-one service industries have no means at all of which to operate under the non-essential ban.  And, if you are going to have to tap into some savings to get through this, be grateful you have that emergency fund to draw from instead of grieving on having to use that money.

Just remember that this is so much bigger than any one of us and is affecting the whole world in ways we can't yet entirely comprehend.  Think of the Olympic athletes around the globe who trained for at least 4 years; many like gymnasts, who have worked hard their whole lives to compete. With the games postponed until next year, some athletes may end up not ever fulfilling their lifelong dream.

Think of the elderly in nursing homes not long for this world and their family who cannot visit them now. Every day that passes is one less chance to spend time with their loved one. And, think of those who have passed away at this time. Their loved ones weren't there with them at the end due to social distancing and lockdowns of facilities. They won't be able to give the deceased a proper funeral for distant family and friends to say their goodbyes, nor can they be comforted by a hug from an extended family member at the services.

And, if you are quarantined at home, remember to cherish every moment you are spending now with your spouse or children, even roommate. Be thankful you have family to be with and don't live alone. Make the most out of everyday, whether that is family time, working on those house projects you've been putting off, enjoying the hobbies you always wished you had the time for, or even if it's just having some long overdue rest and relaxation.

Life will be busy again all too soon, and many of us will be thinking back to this time, wishing we could just be ordered to stay home again for at least one day. But, remember, that day is still presently here, so you do still get to make the most of it right now!!


Please share this to remind others to look on the bright side also. Positive thinking is contagious, so the more people thinking optimistically, the easier it shall become for all of us to get through this – no matter what our personal circumstances currently are!
 

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