It should come to no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has ruined several aspects of life for us in the beginning of the new year. Birthdays seem to be less exciting, concerts are canceled, social distancing has dwindled social interactions with our friends, shopping at our favorite stores has reduced to online ordering only. In a bigger, more serious aspect, businesses are shutting down, people are being forced to file for unemployment, families struggling to pay bills all while trying their hardest to remain healthy and take the necessary precautions, and the world is mourning the loss of thousands taken by this parasitic virus.

One thing that seems to be overlooked is just how much this pandemic has positively impacted the world, which comes to no surprise as there is a cloud of fear hovering over everyone’s head. So here is a quick list of things that have positively impacted our world since this pandemic has taken over our lives:

1. We are coming together as people to help those in need. Donating to families and companies that need help without giving it a second thought, whether that be our time, our money, or our supplies.
2. We have an opportunity to spend more quality time with our families. While working from home does not mean a vacation from work, it does give opportunities to spend more time with our little ones, our loved ones, and even ourselves.
3. We are able to dedicate time to our hobbies! More time to read, paint, write, play music, workout, cook, all sorts of things. Forced to stay home gives us opportunities to develop our skills and even learn new ones.
4. This pandemic has pulled so much creativity out of this world. We are finding new ways to practice social distancing while also being social! Zoom hangouts, social distancing drinks with our neighbors from our driveways, teacher parades through the neighborhoods, Easter egg hunts with drawings in the windows for kids to walk around and take pictures of, social gatherings in parking lots with our friends from our cars, and countless other ways to stay social while following suggested precautions.
5. We care more. We spend more time focusing on bettering our community and what we can do to help those in need. We check up on our family and friends more. We spend more time investing in our relationships and the ones we love.
6. We are creating unforgettable memories. Artists giving free concerts from their social media pages, Netflix viewing parties (if you haven’t checked out this feature, we highly suggest it) with our friends from all over, and Skype and Facetime dates with our significant others while social distancing.

In a worldwide tragedy such as the spread of this awful virus, it is easy to overlook some of the good that can come out of a time like this. Our faith in humanity is restored a little more with each day. There will come an end, life will restore to normal, and we will come out on the other end stronger than before. Thank the essential workers. Thank the healthcare professionals risking their lives everyday to care for ours. Thank your loved ones for checking up on you. Remember that better days are coming and keep positive thoughts. And remember to wash your hands.

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