Back when lockdown officially began, roughly 47 years ago last March, came a radical shift to the way we lived and did things. For many people this meant a lack of job certainty, questioning of government leadership, and a loss of support networks to maintain our mental health. While everyone's journey is different, there are those of us who have managed to come out of this better than when we began.
Reddit user, u/B1G_Tuna69, wanted to know what you've gained from this time when they asked:
What good has this pandemic brought you?
Turns Out Your Body Knows What It Needs
pregnant homer simpson GIFGiphyAfter six years of trying for a child and multiple miscarriages I'm finally pregnant and going on week 20. All it took was me being able to stop being so busy I guess, I realize going full time at school to be a chemist and hosting art shows in my city made me really stressed and I was barely home. My husband and I have been getting along so well, it feels like a new beginning in this sh-tty plague time but we've come together and realized what great friends we really are and how much we love one another.
Okay, Settle Down Now. We're Just Getting Started.
This year my New Years resolution was, "I'm getting out this year!" I bought tickets for five concerts and a music festival. I had a trip planned for Austria and the Great Lakes.
Instead, I got two IT certifications, got a deck built, new driveway installed, cut down two trees, painted and repaired the walls of two rooms, installed a new vanity mirror, had a couple of outlets and a new security light installed on our garage, new cellar door put in, a new whole-house water filter, and will soon have a newly completed paver walkway and new gutters put on the house.
Along with the trips being canceled, my student loan payments were stopped and I'm saving about $160/month in gas, so it freed up a lot of money to put into my house so either I'll have a comfortable place to live through all this, or I'll be able to sell it for a bit more when everything collapses that much worse later down the road. Now that summer's wrapping up, I'm going to let the dust settle on the house repairs, get another IT certification, and throw some of the extra money toward the student loans.
Let It Run Wild
Better hair. I used to get it cut real short. I was already overdue when lockdown started. It gets real curly when it grows long, and I got frustrated trying to straighten it, so I just let it do it's own thing. Then I started getting compliments that it looks real nice this way, so I decided to just keep this going.
More Time...To Quest!
A lot of time with nothing to do but improve myself.
I'm in the best shape of my life, I'm cutting back on drinking, I'm sleeping better, I'm running my first D&D campaign (remotely) and having a blast doing it, I started reading recreationally again, I'm learning how to cook all sorts of things I never tried before... Overall, things are pretty good, considering.
The Perfect Environment For Some
winning the best GIFGiphyI've struggled with agoraphobia and other mental health issues on and off throughout the past few years and a couple months before the pandemic I was in a really bad place and unable to leave my house for the most part. Once the pandemic moved everything online I was able to receive help while at home, and as things have been slowly reopening I have been able to better able to follow baby steps (such as eating at a restaurant, but outside on the patio where I'm more comfortable, or riding the bus with fewer people allowed on than the usual crowding), and am making so much progress.
I feel so much better because in a way everybody is acting in a similar way as me as far as anxiety and avoiding crowds and enclosed spaces, and slowly opening up. This has helped me feel less like a weirdo and failure. I've been able to conquer a ton of fears and after many years of struggling I've finally addressed these issues.
A Lot Of Fund Were Suddenly Made Open
I hate saying it, because I know so many people are in a less fortunate position, but I've financially benefited from it.
Both myself and my wife have continued working, were both just under the cutoff for the full stimulus check, I've received a lot of OT, and we (sadly) had to cancel a couple of vacations this year but were able to get mostly full refunds. That, coupled with less driving, going out to eat, etc - We've made out very well over the last 6 months. Very thankful for it.
Freed Up Time To Study
I lost my job AND caught Covid 3 weeks apart but since then I've lost 20 pounds and I had time to study for and pass three different tests for new state level board certifications that I'll hopefully be able to spin into a new career soon
Lack Of Access, Lack Of Drugs
I've been drug free for 6 months now- started because I couldn't get any, now I just don't want any! Thank you covid.
Everything's Coming Up Milhouse
Bought a house with record low mortgage interest rates, paid off a couple of my student loans sooner than expected thanks to the emergency forbearance, and started dating an incredible girl. I sort of feel bad about how well things have been going for me while so many other people are losing everything.
Freeing Up Time For Things That Really Matter
season 1 GIFGiphyI'm a single dad who went from traveling 250k miles per year for speaking gigs to all virtual overnight. I've spent the last six months seeing my seven year old daughter every day, and it's been nothing short of magical.
Same thing with my husband, he was traveling every week Monday through Thursday. Since Covid he has seen more of our kids than he ever had in the past. He didn't have a bad relationship with hem before but I can tell they are closer now. My husband being around every day is a positive for our family.
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