Thankfulness during a Pandemic

It is easy to give in to negative thinking during this pandemic, especially with a view of quiet holidays looming in the future that do not include the usual social events with friends and family. Add to that a week-long energy - draining intestinal bug, and you have a pretty good picture of what life was like for me last week.

However, as my good health and energy return, so, too, does my positive outlook -- and my feelings of gratitude!

While at times I will say "it's only the two of us" - meaning just my husband and me - I really do recognize that having my husband here with me during this time of quarantining is a real blessing. And I am grateful for his presence. For those of us who are truly singles - who are truly by ourselves - I understand how much more difficult it is. We have a close family member who just lost her husband and is mourning alone -- and this pandemic is making it so much worse for her.

I am also grateful for the modern technology that enables us to keep in contact with one another without having to be in the same room, potentially sharing germs. More and more people in the New York metropolitan area are moving away from the crowds in the city - to live in the suburbs and the countryside - and even at the seashore - because now they can work from home.

All the organizations that I belong to - and that I lead - are having virtual meetings on Zoom.
I have learned all about Zoom - and have taken out a private subscription to enable me to run the photo club meetings and the bi-weekly short story sessions while I remain at home. I am also able to attend other evening meetings in my pajamas, comfortably sipping tea, with the video turned off.

My son and his family in California have joined with my son and grandson in New York and with my husband and me to play games together online. We have actually had game nights across the country!

I also use Zoom to meet individually with each of my three grandkids to discuss books they are reading. They give me the titles, and I read the books, too, so that we have something to talk about when we Zoom with each other. I easily order their books on my Kindle - and they are downloaded immediately.
The same holds true for the book group that I belong to. Our meetings are also virtual.

I am grateful for all of that... and more.

I am especially thankful that I am still able to walk every day. The exercise is essential to my feelings of well being.

And, finally, in spite of my eating soft foods to calm my intestinal tract, my scale has managed to move in the right direction.

I am feeling just about back to normal now.



And I am thinking of all my friends here - and wishing you a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.
Stay safe and stay well.