Sunny side with a dollop of gratitude
COVID-19 Update from my end…
More often, “silver lining” or “looking at the positive side” is used in our daily parlance for what I’m going to write about. I love the sun and have been enjoying the daily dose of unfiltered bright sunlight washing through my sister’s backyard, for the last few days. Apparently sunlight has done a lot in lifting my spirits along with Vitamin D.
And so with the sunny side of my mood in full swing, I decided to write about the 5 things that are sort of silver/golden lining to these black clouds of COVID-19 house arrest – These are about my staying positive during Covid 19:
- Appreciation of the benefits of Technology
My work, kids’ remote learning, speaking to family, chatting with friends, knowing the stats around the world, ordering essentials and some non-essentials too, audio books, Durga saptshati for the Navratri – all of this has been made possible with technology. Being home bound or house arrested in these times of gadgets, whatsapp, and 24/7 news across media is actually quite manageable, wouldn’t you think. Not having the news of our near and dear ones, not knowing what is happening in other parts of the world and taking actions before much can happen, itself is phenomenal.
If I were to write some tips for parenting during coronavirus, gratitude would be right on top. - It’s a great time to pick up the phone and speak to friends and family instead of texting
COVID 19 lockdowns has ensured that everyone (well almost) is house arrested so it’s a perfect time to speak to people you haven’t talked to in a while and raise spirits. And obviously whatsapp chatting is not talking to them. It’s a good call to give a call is all I can say.
It will surely lift the spirits on the other side of the call and help the others also in staying positive during covid 19. It is also one of the simple ways to spend your free time during coronavirus. - Crash course in self cooking fresh and flavorful food
I have not been fortunate to observe a lot of cooking hacks and fusion cooking at such close quarters historically. It comes at an opportune time, about 4 months before I’ll be moving to Seattle lock stock and barrel, without the luxury of house maids, nannies and cooks. Dubai…this is the second thing you will be fondly missed for. The first one is not too difficult to guess considering my love for sunshine. I’m getting to know the short cuts in cooking, some good ingredient ready to eat food brands in the US my sister vouches for, quick snack ideas and the list goes on.
Cooking has been less of a way to spend your free time during coronavirus and more of necessity. But this surely is something that has helped most to stay positive during Covid 19. - My husband has shown a willingness to step inside the kitchen for the first time in last 15 yrs
Calls for a celebration, doesn’t it. The less I say the better lest I jinx it 😉
And this brings to my second tip for parenting, during coronavirus. Its an ideal time to get our kids interested in this life skill. - Appreciation that everything in life is a matter of perspectives
Across all my whatsapp mommies groups and girls’ groups, everyone is cribbing about staying at home with their family, and going bonkers with the kids breathing down their neck, finding it difficult to get them busy in things beyond TV and iPads etc.. In my situation, I wouldn’t want anything more than being able to be with my kids right now. So I know, there is always something positive and worthwhile about the situation we are in. I can devote my time to reflections, reading, being on my own, working at my pace and just spending time with myself and my sister’s family… getting to know my nieces better, solving a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle with them, playing Spot It, Pictionary, Charades, Taboo and Jenga with them – it’s a once in a lifetime experience considering the lives we are leading these days.
Playing these boardgames with our kids is one of the simple ways to spend your free time during coronavirus, and very effective at the same time.
So no matter what situation we are in, we are fortunate to be in it is the way I look at it. Atleast we are at home with our loved ones and not in the hospital dealing with it…
Postscript: About the featured image in this post
We were celebrating my niece’s birthday and the eggless bundt cake didn’t come out quite as planned so was converted into rich chocolate cake pops with sprinkles..These cake pops in the windy evening with candle light symbolized for me the message I wanted to share 🙂
PPS: I had taken up a new role with Amazon Seattle and moved just by myself while my family was in Dubai. This was around the time all this started. I flew down to my sister’s place in Dallas where COVID was exploding in Washington and was much less spread in Texas; and expected it will all die down in 2-3 weeks. Clearly things are taking longer than I imagined.
