A Postive Attitude can keep us sane as we move into the unknown.
By Clint Perry
@cperry2 (5608)
Newport, Oregon
March 17, 2020 12:00pm CST
Today it is bright and sunny where I live. I know it will be a wonderful day. Yes, the world is putting up barriers trying to protect us from getting sick. It is blocking the things we enjoy and that creates challenges. That's okay. In fact, it's great.
So what if your favorite restaurants, schools, theaters, gyms, and other places are closed. What does it matter? This is actually a positive. So long as we are alive, we still have choices. This situation is perfect to shake us out of our mundane routines. It challenges us to finally do things to get fit, to lose weight, take a hike, Go for a run, or a walk. Grab that camera from your closet and go take pictures, grab your easel and paint that bridge or landscape you find so beautiful. Go to the park and lay back watching the clouds float by. If you have a boat, take it out on the river or lake or where ever. It does not matter what you do to make you feel good, it is only important that you do something.
The next few months or even the next year are in no way ruined. Life will be different for sure, but different is not bad unless you choose to make it so.
How you view your life today or tomorrow is your choice. You can dwell on all the things that you cannot do, and wallow in the fear of getting sick, (thereby making yourself miserable) or you can enjoy the fact that there are new things out there to discover.
Get out there and enjoy life. Take each moment as it comes. Protect yourself for sure, but get out there. Be thankful for all the things that you have.
Photo is mine. (It is the Newport Oregon bridge over the Yaquina Bay.)
8 people like this
7 responses
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
17 Mar 20
I do agree with quite a bit of what you say but unfortunately I'm not feeling too positive right now.
My work business has dropped off a cliff so don't know if I'll have a job in a week.
That leads to all sorts of obvious problems relating to bills etc.
Also, we may be looking at enforced stay at home and curfews like in some other european countries.
Where I absolutely agree is that this will give society a massive shake and a wake up call about how fragile things are as they're currently done...hopefully it'll get people thinking as I know I certainly am.
3 people like this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
17 Mar 20
I fully understand that. Uncertainty is a tough issue to overcome. I hope that things will sort themselves out for you and soon. I know that here in the states, there are several proposals being pushed around Washington to help those who find themselves in situations like yours. I pray the UK will have something similar going on now or very soon.
2 people like this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
19 Mar 20
@JudyEv very true. I am not insensitive to the plight of those who will be facing no job and no prospect of a job for what could be many months. I feel sympathy for them. I know our government is trying to come up with some solutions but it may be that everyone may need to pitch in and help them. In a town like the one I live in, there isn't much in the way of employment for unskilled workers outside of food services or cleaning jobs at hotels. Most of the shops here are mom and pop and they do not generally hire outsiders to work there.
This promises to be an interesting and possibly ugly spring and summer. I want to stay positive but even I (generally an optimist) am having some difficulty doing so. I pray that it does not last the 18 months expected for there to be a vaccine available. I'm not sure the economy of the town here or any of the ones near me will be strong enough to remain viable.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
18 Mar 20
You have that right. I just saw an article stating that a major franchise restaurant chain would be laying off some 3000 employees tomorrow morning. That absolutely stinks for the employees, but what choice do they have? One possible good thing though, Amazon is posting that they are hiring 100,000 people to help move packages, and the grocery chains are also looking for additional people to stock shelves and do delivery work. So for now, maybe things will work out okay.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Mar 20
In this country at the moment you are not allowed to go for a walk or nothing like that and you will be fined if they catch you doing so quite a lot as well.
In no uncertain terms they have put the clamp down on us but big time.
You have to have a certificate that says you are going to work and there can be no more than two people in any car at one time.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Mar 20
@cperry2
We can go out to the shops once yes but we obviously have to have some shopping to prove it.
You can be in your garden but these are mostly high rise flats so no chance of that..
Good luck with the course.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
17 Mar 20
Oh, my. That is quite an unpleasant situation. What provision have they made for you to get food or other requirements? This would be especially hard if you are in a condo or apartment. If you have a house with a yard, surely you would be allowed to go out there so long as you stay on your property. I have read that the police there are using drones to assist in enforcement. Even with being required to stay inside there are some things you can do. Reading, or maybe take online courses or something like that. I admit they are probably not the first choices I would have but, if that is all I have then I would bury myself in them anyway. Anything to keep me from focusing on the negatives.
Having just recovered from a knee replacement, I am already sick of the inside of my house. But during this recovery time, I managed to read four books. I am almost done with a fifth. I am beginning a college course online tomorrow. I know that will require a lot of concentration.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
17 Mar 20
@lovinangelsinstead21 I think that I might just have to go to the shop every other day for some item I forgot. I would buy something to carry home, maybe a can of soup. Hang in there, with any luck this will be over quickly.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
24 Apr 20
@cperry2 I really feel a lot of good and bad has come out of this virus. So much more is happening ( pros and cons ) than just the virus alone. I'm happy to know that our ozone layer is healing, certain animals are more safe and are able to do what they naturally want to do with a less change of humans getting in their way. People are able to do the things you said too. But then the virus is causing people to stay home more which means cabin fever, feeling like prisoners, losing money / jobs / business and domestic violence has gone up quite a bit. It's both good and bad with what is happening right now.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
25 Apr 20
For every good, there is bad that comes along for the ride. My heart goes out to those who find themselves under the strictest of quarantines, Spain, India, to name two are under such conditions that their children (anyone under 14, have not been allowed outside at all. For apartment dwellers without a balcony, this is especially difficult. But, in the end, it will be for the best. People are having to become creative to keep from going insane. That can be a good thing though it probably doesn't look that way right now. I see that part of our country is opening up this week. It goes against all sane advice of the experts. I suppose we shall see how bad things will get in the next couple of weeks.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
27 Apr 20
@cperry2 I completely agree with everything you said. I really feel it's too early to start going back to normal too.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79858)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Mar 20
To me, the closing of restaurants and bars is of no matter because I don't go but I do hope some of the pizza places and fast food ones will stay open
1 person likes this
