“We must look for the good in the bad, the happy in the sad, the gain in the pain, and the gratitude rather than the hatred.” Karen Salmanson
The decade of 2010 was difficult for me. Hardly a year went by without someone close to me dying.
When the tragic decade began, I was in the middle of my resident training and free time was a luxury I didn’t have. When I graduated and became a family doctor, I was so busy taking care of patients that I didn’t even have time to rest.
In 2018, my world shattered when one of my best friends passed away unexpectedly. I couldn’t do anything about the sudden shock. To overcome my despair, I worked harder to care for patients in need.
Shortly thereafter, my father-in-law was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer. The next year, her husband and I used our spare time to fly across the country to meet him. We watched him slowly deteriorate until he took his last breath in 2019.
Instead of slowing down, I kept going. It seemed like he worked so hard to contain his grief that he needed a mental health break to grieve.
When the world stopped due to COVID-19, I had to pause too. With the whole world in quarantine, I finally have time to heal my heartbreak.
As we spent more time at home, my husband and I found ourselves going for walks, cooking more meals, and talking openly about how we were feeling. We visited family on FaceTime and Zoom to share stories of those who died.
I found joy in the little things, like the sunrise, the chirping of birds, and a cup of tea. The past was so different from what we lived in, the future was so uncertain, and we were finally living in the present.
The pandemic has brought so much suffering and sorrow, but I have found an unexpected gratitude in it.
Thank you for the time spent with loved ones who died before COVID-19.
Thank you for spending more time with each other now.
We appreciate technology that allows us to stay connected with family and friends.
Thank you for reminding us that life is fleeting and sometimes we need to “slow it down”.
Appreciate the opportunity to step back and reflect on the important things in life.
To my surprise, I found myself feeling Thank you COVID-19.
It was the darkest time. I am devastated by all the lives lost and all the losses people have experienced. The course of humanity has changed, but perhaps not for the better.
But I found solace in the silver lining that emerged from the pandemic. It’s something that will stay with me long after the virus has passed. I’m more grateful today than ever, and it gives me a sense of calmness and a newfound strength to move forward.
For example, my stepfather passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones. For a year we were able to accompany him to his appointments and create new memories.We traveled to Mexico so that he could enjoy the warmth with his son and brother during the winter months. I arranged a family trip to
These normal events weren’t possible in the early days of the pandemic. If he had passed away a year later, we wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye like this, and we thank him for the quality time we spent together.
During the pandemic, I finally mourned the loss of my best friend. Instead of being busy with distractions like I used to, I now have time to truly process and feel his loss through the five stages of grief. But instead of feeling sad, I’m thinking about how he will usher in this new normal.
The pandemic is nothing to celebrate, but it has certainly opened my heart. I never thought that something so terrible could bring so much healing and hope.
COVID-19 has made it very clear that life is too short to worry about the little things. Life is too precious to enjoy every moment, especially when you are with someone you love. When we choose to be grateful for all that we have, we open ourselves to more joy, peace, and connection.
You may not be able to control the situation, but you can control how you react to it. We can choose kindness, understanding, and empathy for ourselves and others.
Did someone get me stuck in traffic? Okay, maybe you’re rushing to the hospital to see your loved one. Hope they get there safely!
Also, do you have a bad Wifi connection? Don’t worry, you can use this time to read a book.
did i make the wrong decision? It’s okay, learn from it and make better choices next time.
Reframing your thoughts to focus on the good, no matter how small, can have a powerful effect on your mood and outlook. increase.
COVID-19 has taken a lot away from us all. But if we can find positive things and find ways to cultivate gratitude, we can find happiness in the midst of hardships. can be connected.
During the pandemic, I picked up some good habits. I am now a daily diary writing about everything that made me happy. Whenever I spend time with my friends and family, I pay close attention to them. i enjoy my job We treat our patients like family and consider it a privilege to be part of their care. I also take time for self-care and nurture my creative pursuits.
The world has changed, and so have I. Thank you for the life lessons and growth.
About Manda Lai
Manda Lai is a doctor, a little happiness (aldohappy, “all do happy”) is a mission, mindset and movement dedicated to spreading happiness around the world. She is passionate about helping people find and nurture their happiness. happythat is, kindness, gratitude, empathy, relationship building, self-care.visit a little happiness A blog for finding tips and resources on how to infuse happiness into your everyday life.
