I’d like to take a moment today to express my gratitude in times of grief and difficulty.

I am grateful that the sun came up this morning and that the weather is beautiful. I’m grateful for an amazing family who is staying connected, even though we live in different states. I’m grateful for the food on my table, the clothes on my back and the ability to still go to work. I recognize that I am fortunate to still have the luxury of going to work when so many others do not. Note to self: don’t ever complain about work again… HAHA!

Human nature often leads us down a path of feeling doom and gloom during trying times. We tend to only see what is happening to us, rather than being able to step back and see how we can choose to respond. Everything you do each day is a choice, and today I choose to respond with grace and positivity. I choose to find the silver lining in this whole pandemic and to find ways to brighten others’ days.

Wanna join me? What are some ways we can bring joy to others?

1. Post positive thoughts on your social media channels, rather than giving in to the hysteria
2. Call your mom, dad, grandparents, friends… Yes, I said CALL. Not text. Not email. CALL. Now, more than ever, we need human connection and hearing the voice of a loved one calling to check in on you can brighten someone’s day in an instant.
3. Call local nursing homes and ask if you can be a virtual friend to some of their residents who do not have family. Can you chat with them via telephone? Be a virtual or snail-mail pen pal? Maybe the staff at the nursing home can setup a facetime call so you can interact and make them feel less isolated.
4. Do you know your neighbors? Particularly elderly ones, or ones who have lost their jobs? In what ways can you help those folks? Perhaps you can run to the grocery store to get groceries for them so they don’t have to leave the house. Perhaps you can even afford to PAY for some of those groceries!
5. Think of some non-profit organizations that are close to your heart who are doing great things during this time. In my immediate area, I think of the YMCA offering relief childcare to first responders. I think of Metropolitan Ministries offering food to families who can’t afford it right now. I think of the Humane Society and other shelters who are getting overcrowded from people surrendering their pets. I choose to help all of them as much as I possibly can.
6. Do you have friends, family or colleagues who are in the medical field, police, fire, EMS, military or other essential personnel? Sending a thank-you card, text, email or other communication can definitely lift their spirits during this time! Let them know you appreciate all that they are doing to keep our community safe and healthy. Odds are they are a little nervous about going to work each day and whether or not that will result in contracting the Coronavirus and potentially exposing their family, so just let them know you care.
7. How about the grocery store, gas station, pastors and other workers still out there taking care of us? Write out some handwritten thank you cards and drop them off at those local stores. Ask the manager to share them with the staff.
8. Put some uplifting images in your windows at your house so kids and families will see them as they are out walking, riding their bikes, etc. Take some colored paper and cutout rainbows, hearts, stars, balloons, crosses… Whatever makes you smile will likely also make your neighbors smile.
9. Support your local businesses! Although you can’t go to many of them right now, you can likely go online and purchase some gift cards for those businesses that you can use later or gift to others. This will help small business owners know that they are not alone and that their local community supports them! (hint- if you do this, please share it on your social media outlets to give your friends the same idea. The more support, the better).
10. Pay for the person behind you in the drive through! Since we can’t go into restaurants right now, many places are still offering drive-through services. So if you happen to be taking advantage of this service, go the extra mile to make someone’s day better.

Hopefully you’re inspired by some of these ideas. It can seem overwhelming sometimes when you’re a person who really wants to make an impact on the lives of others. I find that breaking it down into smaller pieces is helpful for me to actually get some things accomplished and make someone else smile.

Which ones are you going to try? Leave me a note in the comments!

Blessings and love, JB 🙂