Who knew when we celebrated the New Year on December 31, 2019, we would be entering the new year of 2020, and at the same time, it would send us back in time?
January 1, 2020, seemed like any other new year day. Nothing here in America appeared to be different. Families were home celebrating the holiday. People were making new year’s resolutions they most likely would not keep and would somehow blame it on not having enough time.
Aroudn this time, people throughout the world were hearing of a virus spreading throughout Asia, killing people quickly and it made no sense. This mysterious virus then spread to Italy and again, took control of the population, killing most that came in its path. Now, it was announced it was here, in America, but we are Americans we overcome all so why panic right? The government will take control of doing what needs to be done in order to stop people here from having the same fate as those abroad, or so we thought.
Push forward a few weeks and we were hearing reports that the virus was spreading in our country. Moreover, it seemed to settle in California and Washington State. As if overnight, it was spreading East and in no time at all it entered into NY and NJ. New York became the epicenter of this virus. Once the word 
was out that the virus was spreading like wildfire and the hospitals could not handle the number of sick patients coming in with this “mysterious” illness our lives changed. The government ordered everyone to stay home.
While some complained Social media caused us to be less social, the Coronavirus has forbidden socializing altogether. We were placed in “shelter in place”.
The food stores are empty. People panicked and not one package of meat nor a roll of toilet paper can be found anywhere. It is bizarre and scary. People are laid off; the stock market is crashing, our economy is being destroyed. 30-million jobs were lost in a 6-week period.
Here we are being thrown back in time. While, our reality is we are living in 2020, the experience is that of the roaring 20s of the 1900s. We were experiencing the “Great Depression” and prohibition. Only this time we are not in prohibition regarding alcohol, prohibition comes in the form of socializing. I think December 31, 2019, should have come with this warning: “The Roaring 20s and once again experience an age of dramatic social and political change”.
We needed to learn how to live in a new norm. A norm 
where we could no longer congregate at church or in parks, they were shut down. We now must stay inside at home. If we go out for essentials, we must wear face masks. It is a different world. A world where we must adjust to a new anti-social way of life. A world which to some degree it is a dark, scary world. Or is it?
My mother always told me I was “too nice”. She would also say to me, “you always want to see the bright side of everything.” I never thought that was a negative thing, and during this time I am happy I am this way.
So, during this pandemic of the Coronavirus, I would like to share some light in this darkness.
Together let’s look to the Brightside:
Families have learned what it is to have “family time”. We are all getting to live the life we see when watching retro-television shows by having parents’ at home with children, sitting down to family dinners at home, family game nights. Having parents’ home relaxing at night watching tv or reading while kids are in their rooms or laying on the living room floor doing something they like.
Children can sleep without waking up at 4 am to be dropped off at daycare by 6 am and older kids do not have to wake up early to catch a ride to school on a cold, noisy bus. Parents are home to help their kids with school/homework.
So many of us along life’s way have wished for time. How many times have you said, “if only I had more time,” or “I wish I could just get a week off with nothing to do”? Well, that wish has come true. We have time to organize our closets, have an hour per day for exercise, or just sit home and do absolutely nothing. 
When I look around or read newspapers online, I see great things are happening. throughout the world. Streets are no longer crowded with cars and trucks, factories are closed, therefore, auto accidents have been lower and so are our pollution levels and smog has disappeared leaving our cleaner. The stars are shining brightly, and we are being blessed with meteor showers and auroras have been reported to be seen in “spectacular detail” during this time. Also, we have been able to see planets so bright in the night sky it feels like you could reach them.
Venice has reported and showed pictures of the dolphins and fish which have now returned to the canals as the water has become clean and clear. Mom and Pop shops are thriving as they save many of us with needed supplies we cannot find at bigger supermarket chains. Businesses are closing earlier and staying closed on Sunday, as they used to when I was growing up, giving people time to relax and be with their family. 
Friends and families who do not normally have time to visit one another, have now made time to meet in group chats like “Zoom Meeting” or “Google Meet” to have virtual dinners and happy hours. People who say, “Hey let’s get together and yet, never do finally have time and are using these technologies to make it happen.” Though we are on 
a form of “lockdown” people are finding they need their family and friends. People are learning there is more to life than materialistic things.
Through it all, I was nervous when this first started. I have now come to embrace these changes. As I wrote in my last blog Change Your Mindset I started to look at things differently and I learned to relax and enjoy this gift of time that was given to me. I have learned that I am okay with this way of life. I will be sad when the world opens and goes back to what many refer to as “normal”, then again, maybe the new norm will remain the slower-paced life we are currently experiencing. I am hoping it will.
Until next time…
Keep Sparkling~
