COVID-19's Silver Linings

This was a post I put on Facebook and a couple of other platforms with very favorable results overall. Enjoy!

My intent is not to minimize the unprecedented social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which will likely stand as the most significant event in most of our lives. But I, for one, am growing weary of the information overload which has understandably all been negative. So, for a change of pace (and because I’m more of an optimist than pessimist), I thought I’d try to look for the silver linings in this pandemic and come up with a list of positives. I actually had quite a few more but these were the most significant. If you can think of other positive aspects to this scourge, send them my way; maybe I’ll add to this list and re-publish it.

• Air pollution has plummeted with carbon dioxide emissions down by up to 30% in quarantined metro areas
• The waters and canals in and around Venice, Italy are visibly clearer in the absence of boat traffic and tourists
• A BBC story covered how the lockdown has been good for wildlife species of all kinds
• Communities everywhere are coming together to help neighbors with acts of kindness
• The AARP and many local organizations are providing ongoing wellness checks for the elderly and others
• There appears to be a newfound appreciation and respect for lower-wage workers
• Ditto for front-line healthcare professionals
• Ditto supply chain workers
• Talking about supply chains, while resilient, we did discover weaknesses that need to be corrected
• Of course, family connection times have increased in locked down areas
• There has been a significant drop in traffic accidents
• Parents are getting a better understanding of what teachers go through dealing with their children
• Garages, kitchen pantries and drawers everywhere have been purged and reorganized
• Churches, temples and synagogues have learned how to stream their services and events. (My parish offered drive-up blessings recently)
• K-12 schools and other educational institutions had an opportunity to evaluate their infrastructure and connectivity needs and shortcomings in real time
• Many families are eating healthier home0cooked meals more often
• The timeline for vaccine research has been greatly accelerated
• Grocery stores are offering dedicated shopping hours for seniors and the disabled
• People, especially many parents, have become more tech-savvy
• Oil/gasoline prices have plummeted (I know it’s a double-edged sword)
• Connectivity shortcomings and digital divide issues were uncovered
• Many people have developed (or reignited) a higher level of mindfulness and self-awareness
• More people have taken up breathing exercises and meditation to lower stress and anxiety
• Animal shelter adoptions have skyrocketed with some shelters were emptied out completely