This COVID-19 Nightmare Made Me Become Appreciative

Millions of people around the world are sick. Thousands have died. Businesses are forced to shut down. Students stopped attending their classes. The poor get even poorer. Parents are running out of resources. Workers are risking their safety outside to bring home some foods. Mothers are losing their children. Many are stranded abroad and out of reach. Life is absolutely miserable for the majority. And some of us (including me) can still live comfortably— I think it’s a heaven-sent gift that deserves our hundred percent appreciation. Isn’t it? 

It’s really painful to watch or read news about our countrymen grappling to survive while COVID- 19 continues to dominate in our country. That’s why; I’m always keeping them in my prayers because that’s the only thing I can do for now. Believe me, I really want to help them, however, I have no means and enough resources to do it so. And sometimes, this incapability to help haunts me in my sleep and sends me guilt mostly at times I’m enjoying the comfort of our home, with foods to eat, with vitamins to drink, and with income persistently flowing in. 

Before, when the world was still in harmony, I really didn’t mind these blessings because, for me, these were just a normal thing. And I was even demanding for more. But now, I got a new looking glass. I came to realize that these simples things, I often disregarded the importance before, are the things that actually keeping me and my family alive in this time of COVID- 19 pandemic. From this very realization, I learned how to be thankful and contented for what I have. I learned to categorize things between needs and wants. And most importantly, I learned to be more appreciative. I think, that matters a lot. 

From then on,  I keep thanking God every day even for the simplest beautiful thing happened to me, like waking up in the morning with the strength to push through, rice supply, the privilege to continue working from home, etc. Now, I really appreciate these things a lot, very different from before. 

Gratitude Journal

So generally, this blog will serve as my gratitude journal. Let me allocate this space to thank God for everything I have now. To make these things possible, I tried to think of all the positive things that happened in my life, especially during this pandemic. Let’s get it on. 

• When I was looking for a job last year, I was really targetting and desperate to find and start my career in Manila. But for some circumstances, which I believe set by God, I decided to consider gearing up my fresh adult months here in Batangas. So I stayed here, settled a job nearby. At some point, I was sad because I wasn’t able to accomplish my chief goal, but I made myself relieved by believing that God put me here for a reason. And now, I think I found that reason— to save me from the nightmare brought by COVID-19. Right now, our company is so blessed to have given a chance to operate amidst the ongoing pandemic. We continue working at home and receive salary without lapses since the first day the lockdown was imposed. Thank God for this. If happened I was designated in Manila, just like what I was always dreaming, I really don’t know what happened to me. As we all know, Manila is the ground-zero of the outbreak in the country, and if I stayed there while the virus was starting to propagate, I might get it and extremely devastated. I think it’s really true that our dear Lord really knows what’s best for us. Even if His judgment sometimes brings us sadness and gives us a hard time to understand, it really has a greater purpose in the end. So I really acknowledge the guidance He has given me. I’m thanking him a lot for this.

• Three or more times a day, we’re eating meals without a skip. And with this, I want to thank God, my whole heart. If only I can share some with people who have none, I’ll really do it. Even if I don’t usually show it or post it, it’s really breaking my heart to know that while I’m enjoying my dinner, there are Filipinos who are striving to death, who have no choice but to sleep and cry their hunger at night. It opened up my mind to the reality of life. And it really encouraged me to stand up and make a move in the future when time and situations finally allow me to put it in motion. To ease the guilt, I started to plan celebrating the upcoming Christmas season in a different way. Instead of buying myself a gift, I would like to roam around the city, find some street-dwellers, and ask them what they like, and buy this for them as my gift. I know it’s not that much but I think it’s one of the best ways I know to show how thankful I really am. And after all, the spirit of Christmas is giving, right?

• Health. Waking up in great condition every morning is the primary gift from God we should be thankful for. Add ons if we can sleep peacefully at night, without thinking where to get food the next day and so on. If you’re feeling so well while other people are sick and dying, you should gaze up to the sky and praise God for this. It’s a miracle. And definitely, you should never take this for granted. From the bottom of my heart, I’m really thanking God for this. 

My Take

Appreciation is free but it’s one thing that’s difficult to obtain from someone. People (including me) usually find it hard to appreciate some good things happening in their lives, especially when life situation is not tough. Now, I realize that maybe, this coronavirus pandemic is a huge reminder from up above that we’re forgetting something. That we’re setting an important thing aside. That we need to learn our lesson. That we need to see the important things in our lives. That we need to appreciate what we have. What do you think? 

Photo Credit: Ben White