Life these days looks a lot different from a few months ago. Everything we know has changed and it seems the world will never be the same.
A lot of people are respecting social distancing more than ever, and some aren't. Some people have started showing their generous side, while others have started hoarding all the resources they can.
But what if we all changed for the better?
Although nothing is as it was, this does not have to be a bad thing. I have previously spoken about how people have become more supportive as a community during these times of uncertainty, and it seems the world is giving back a lot more, and some even paying it forward and donating to charities. So the world is being impacted positively.
However, the stock markets have been going up and down quite drastically these days. I am not a person preoccupied with finance, but I have been noticing that my groceries and basic amenities cost a lot more these days. Apparently, although there are some companies going bankrupt during these times, some other big companies have been thriving during COVID-19.
The reality is the world has changed a lot and we have lost a lot. However, we are still stuck in our old ways.
While some of us have received a lot of money to pay rent and for basic services, some are using this money to pay for material things. These costs add up, and we don't need to show off anymore. The world as a whole is all in the same situation, so there is no need to be going out or spending.
Life as we know it has been altered, but it has not been changed. What we need is a shift in mentality, and to prioritize the things that we cannot buy.
I am referring to our health, our family and loved ones, and most of all our fulfillment without materials. I am not a minimalist, but I do know that a lot of people are still valuing the things they can purchase.
If buying things gives you joy in these times, then I don't want to stop you from doing what you want. However, these times have made me reflect and think that our happiness and well-being matters most.
Instead of taking the time to buy things, we should start focusing on ourselves; we have time.
We can learn more about ourselves. A lot of us no longer have to work long hours at the office. Some of us work from home, some have reduced hours, and some are on the front lines either fighting the virus, or providing essential services. The point is self-care is non-negotiable.
We have the time to reflect on who we are and to learn what we value. We have time to figure out what drives us, and to even take steps towards accomplishing goals we have put on the back burner. We have time to try new hobbies. We have time to spend with loved ones, even if it is from a considerable distance.
You can even take another path and finally just be. Relax and unwind, binge-watch that show you've been meaning to watch. Indulge in some activities not related to productivity (and don't make the same mistake as me by being way to productive at the beginning of quarantine...eventually burning out).
The point is we have time, and that is the most valuable resource of all.
We must choose what we want to do with the time that is given to us. Do something that matters to you, and forget the ways of the past. Start valuing your relationships and be grateful for all that you have, instead of focusing on what you don't.
Every day is a gift and a lot of us take it for granted. Take time in your day, at least once a week, to feel grateful for all that you have and all that you are.
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