COVID Silver Linings

I’m pretty positive that many people reading that title will do a double-take and then think something along the lines of “wait, WHAT???”  If that’s what happened for you, that’s totally okay.  Most of the conversations about COVID over the last 8-plus months have been negative, which is understandable because it is, after all, a pandemic.  And people are dying.  If we take a moment to take a wider look, there are some actual silver linings that have come about during this same timeframe.  It has been a topic of many conversations that I have had over the last couple of weeks.

Silver Lining Number 1:  Changing Priorities

Many more people are realizing what is really important to them, and have been able to begin taking action steps to create a lifestyle that matches.  Working from home has allowed people to spend less time commuting and more time with family.  People who have long wanted pets or more time outdoors have created spaces in their lives.  And as we have been apart from family and friends, we have realized just how important these people are to us.

Silver Lining Number 2: Small Acts of Kindness Have Sprouted in Lots of Places

Teens are creating companies that are sending healthcare workers self-care items.  So many carpenters, experienced and newly introduced, are making desks for students who are learning remotely.  People are supporting small and local businesses as never before.  And there are Christmas tree farmers who are giving trees away so families impacted by job loss due to COVID can still celebrate with this tradition.  Neighbors are helping neighbors by running errands or creating drive-by birthday celebration parades.  Stories are being read over YouTube and museums and zoos created virtual fieldtrips for remote learning students to take advantage of.  Food donations are consistently being given to banks and pantries around the country including from farmers who otherwise would have had crops go to waste.

Silver Lining Number 3: New Solutions to Old Barriers Have Come Into Play

“I can’t make it to my appointment; my car broke down.” 

“I can’t do that appointment time or work with that provider because of how far I have to drive to get there.”

“It’s intimidating to talk to someone while you’re sitting in the same space.”

“I like to get my work done at my pace and not have to do a bunch of stuff that doesn’t help me learn.”

“If I miss a class, the make-up work is too stressful!”

Any or all of these statements are ones that I have heard over the years.  Until last March.  Then these stopped being barriers because we changed how we were doing things.  Students who couldn’t go to school in person on a given day were able to tune into their classes virtually and stay caught up.  Appointment times were doable because the commute time was taken away.  It felt less intimidating to a lot of people to talk to someone through a screen.  Transportation is less of a problem when you don’t have to drive somewhere.  Class sizes are smaller.  People who live far away from the nearest medical or behavioral health providers are able to engage in needed services.  Technology that can enhance learning, counseling, the provision of medicine, and so much more has been utilized.  And, surprise, we are finding that this is helpful!

Silver Lining Number 4: Staying Home from School Doesn’t Mean the Stress of Make-Up Work

I mentioned this a bit under the last one but as this is such a significant portion of stress for many students, it bears being mentioned as its own silver lining.  Before COVID, students who had to be absent from school because of illness, family needs, or any number of other reasons were faced with a pile of make-up work upon returning to school.  Digging out from under this pile while trying to stay caught up with the new work being presented added to anxiety or created its own stress for many students.  Now, if a student is unable to attend in-person they are able to tune in virtually which allows them to stay caught up and eliminates the stress caused by make-up work.  This has been a significant positive for so many!  (Note to any school administrators reading this: I’m still a huge supporter of snow days because, let’s face it, it’s nice for everyone to have a surprise day off to enjoy every now and again!)

Silver Lining Number 5: Essential Workers

Often we in this country, historically, have shown how much we value a certain profession by how much money individuals within that profession are given or how much esteem we place with the professional.  When shut downs began happening last spring, and workers were declared essential or non-essential, it seems there may have been a shift in this line of thinking.  Because essential workers, individuals who had to work or everything collapsed, were not necessarily the individuals who made the most money or had the most glamourous jobs.  Grocery store employees, trash collectors, and postal workers, for example, were listed next to the teachers, doctors, nurses, and first responders.  All are essential.  All are valuable members of the communities in which they work and reside.  And all should be shown respect and gratitude.  I hope this continues!

Silver Lining Number 6: Just a Note on Silver Linings

When we look for a silver lining, we are not ignoring the negatives or forgetting how awful something is.  We are choosing to take a perspective that allows for healthy functioning and that supports effective coping with a situation including the emotions we have about it.