I just wanted to start by saying that I know Covid has affected people in real and big ways. Losing loved ones to this pandemic is heart-wrenching and I in no way want to take away from the severity of that pain. I write only in hopes that we can be more thankful for normal life in the future, not to offend or distract from the bigger and more real loses of this past year. My heart goes out to the millions of families who have lost someone, my heart aches for you and I hope this blog brings some joy to you.
Covid has taken a lot from us. Taken a lot of lives, a lot of experiences, and a lot of the little things that we love about life. The other day I started making a mental list of all the little things that used to just be easy and normal, that now I haven’t been able to do in almost a year. The little things I love and miss, but will never again take for granted after this pandemic is just something written about in our history books.
Here are a few I came up with…
- Sitting in a coffee shop with a big mug of something sweet and my computer. Spending the day writing and dreaming.
- Hugging people. Wrapping my arms around my friends or people I haven’t seen in a while.
- Flying. Being way too close to the people next to me and eating gross food at 3am when I’m half asleep.
- Going to a late night movie with friends and walking out of the theatre when its dark and cool out.
- Shopping sprees!! Mask free!!
I asked my social media platform about the things they missed and here were the responses I received…
- Sleepovers.
- Smiling at strangers.
- Hugging pretty much everyone I know and love.
- Shopping for fun not just essentials.
- Going to the movies.
- Eating in restaurants.
- Sitting at a table with people and eating.
- Going to concerts.
- Working in a coffee shop.
- Packing a car full of girls for YoungLife club.
- Going to other people’s houses.
- Visiting friends that live far away.
- Being able to just go out with friends.
- Passing old people in shopping isles and seeing warm, neighborly, soft smiles.
- Visiting grandparents.
- Working out without a mask on.
- Getting to see everyone I want to see without have to be selective.
- Not wearing masks.
- Sports events.
- Going to church not wearing a mask, we can’t see each other fully when we fellowship.
- Walking to class or in person classes.
- Sitting in coffee shops.
- Spontaneously going out with friends for coffee/meals.
- Wearing glasses (can’t because of the fog with a mask on.)
- Just being able to be around family without fear of spreading anything.
- Wearing lipstick.
I seriously loved reading through the responses I got and remembering what joy all these things that used to be so normal, but now are almost impossible, brought to me. I wanted to write this blog, not to complain, but to remind myself, years from now when life is simple again, that the little things about life that I love can easily be taken away, so I should find excitement and joy in them every single time. I think after this pandemic is finally over we will all smile a little more, hug a LOT more, and be so much more grateful for the things that used to feel so mundane, but now are so special to us.
After writing that first list I also realized that there are some things that before this year I didn’t really do but found joy in since all the other things were taken away…
- Walks with my mama up and down our ridiculously long driveway.
- My brother in law and I watching all the marvel movies in order.
- Yoga.
- Buying lots of plants and taking care of them like they were my little babies.
- Making macrame projects.
- Learning more about how to cook and bake.
Answers from my social media…
- Working out – cardio dance party.
- Reading.
- Moving to a new state.
- Photography.
- Meditation.
- Learned to know and love my actual neighbors.
- Cooking.
- Exercising.
So yeah. Covid obviously took more than it gave, but I refuse to see 2020 as a wasted year. The Lord had a plan and for some reason this past season of life was meant to look the way it did. However, I found a lot of good things in the hard because I decided to work for it. The good was not just handed to me, it was buried below ash, but I chose to dig. Covid obviously isn’t over so I encourage you to search for the hidden treasures the Lord may have blessed you with over the past year that you may have looked over. He is always good people, so His plan is always good, even when it is almost impossible to see.
Comment below (or write them down somewhere) any of the little things you miss doing, or new things you tried this year so you don’t forget!! This year was not a wasted year!!
