What the virus has made me more grateful for
The pandemic has brought many already important things to even greater light, such as the priorities of individuals in a crisis situation and how they influence us to respond to risk or tragedy. As I watch these responses, I learn that people are both resilient and fearful. I thought it might do some good to remind ourselves of what we’re fighting for as, ultimately, we are distancing to save not only lives, but livelihoods.
I am trying my best to do my part for/with and am grateful for the following:
- My family and friends.
This is especially highlighted by the fact that I’m an introvert, so I don’t have many to begin with, but those I do have, I treasure all the more deeply. I savor the quality rather than quantity of relationships (this is not to say that extroverts can’t or don’t, it’s just the usual for me). I value my partner as the “essential worker” who continues to work, to risk themselves during the pandemic so that we can go on living together, so that we have a home to return to. I value any attempt to stay in touch from those I care about, even as they stay physically away from the world, protest police brutality, or are busy taking care of a loved one and may have quite a lot else going on in their lives, to still reach out continuously to my own — to show that I am loved, too.
