By Rebekah Hansen
1. All you need is love… & family
I think most of us can fairly say we’ve spent far more time with family and loved ones in the past few weeks than ever before. When you’re forced to stay inside for weeks on end due to a raging virus that is haunting the outside world, you suddenly learn how vital it is to learn to just get along. Quarantined life can be miserable enough without the added stresses of fighting and contention. So the first (and very possibly the most important) lesson I’ve learned during the COVID-19 pandemic is that all you really need is love and family. It’s as simple as that. Maybe I only speak for myself, but among the stresses and fears that the corona virus has elicited in me, I have found myself relying more and more upon the support and care of my family. When the world suddenly becomes a place filled with uncertainty, you realize that the one thing in life that is absolutely certain is family (whether that be blood relatives or just the ones you call family). The small nugget of wisdom I have gained thus far through this crazy time is that I will never again take those people for granted whom I love and love me in return. The world can always use a little more love, and our family and the people in our lives who are deserving of the title “family” are a good place to start.
2. Maslow was a wise guy
Immediately after hearing the announcement that my university would be forced to go online, I began packing up to head home until further notice concerning the virus. Scared, confused, sad, uncertain of what the future held—overwhelmed with so many conflicting emotions, I knew the one place I would feel secure was home with my family. Upon arriving home, I instantly felt safer. While uncertainty and fear did not dissipate entirely, the serious way my family responded to the virus and the care my parents and siblings showed in trying to keep our family healthy allowed me to feel safe from the virus within the walls of our own home where we were quarantining together. However, after a few weeks of this isolation had passed, I had to make the big move back to Utah to move out of my apartment. The moment I arrived there I began to feel anxiety creeping in. All those feelings of security were suddenly gone. Where had my roommates been? Who had they seen? Which surfaces had they touched? It seems so silly, but all at once a million worries flooded my mind. That is when I came to truly understand the method behind Maslow’s madness of his hierarchy of needs. After meeting our physiological needs of food and shelter, we need security, and security is exactly what I lacked and could not find anywhere in Utah. The safe haven my apartment once provided had now been transformed into a potential death trap. A bit dramatic, I know—but Maslow was right. We need security to achieve self-actualization. We need security to flourish. Amid my anxiety, lack of productivity, and sense of lonesomeness, I suddenly understood just how badly I needed that security. My well-being depended upon it. So if you’re feeling down on yourself for not being as productive as you’d like or not checking off those quarantine to-do lists, just know you’re not alone. Try to be a little kinder to yourself.
3. We need each other
One week? Two? A couple months? The whole world was asking the same question. How long would this all go on? This is when I realized just how much we need each other. Because when I was feeling overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty, the one thing that really kept me going was remembering that everyone else in the world was feeling the same way. We were in this together and we would be better and stronger together. We would beat the corona virus together. We would overcome this worldwide pandemic together. And as a world and a people, we would heal together. Whether that meant receiving the necessary medical care from our selfless medical heroes, mending broken relationships upon realizing just how fragile life is, supporting local businesses to ensure that all would have food on their tables, or staying home to keep each other safe, we would get through this and we would emerge stronger because of it. And along the way, we would recognize that we cannot beat the corona virus alone, nor can we do this life alone. We need each other.
4. Expect the unexpected
School online. Jobs lost. Travel plans cancelled. Weddings via Zoom. I think something we can all agree upon is that the corona virus has changed our daily routines and life plans in one way or another. While worldwide viruses don’t happen everyday, one thing that we can always expect in life is the unexpected. No matter how well we plan, we have to anticipate roadblocks and be prepared to change our plans. But one thing I have learned during this pandemic is that change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, learning to accept those roadblocks and being willing to work with them can be one of the best opportunities for growth and learning. So rather than trying to dodge those curve balls life is going to try to throw at you, catch them. Run with them. You’ll realize that life isn’t just about planning, but really about experiencing.
5. It’s okay to slow down
With instant messaging and high-speed transportation, we are used to a very fast-paced world. We are accustomed to a life in which moments of rest are fleeting and oftentimes even looked down upon. While yes, of course, productivity is important and actually quite vital, why do we feel like we must be constantly on the go? What’s wrong with slowing down every once in a while to notice our surroundings or enjoy time with the people we love. Aren’t those the things we’re going to look back on and remember someday anyways? Hence, the last, but definitely not least, lesson I’ve learned during this COVID-19 pandemic is that it’s okay to slow down at times. In fact, as humans, we NEED rest. I know we would all like to believe that we are super-humans and can survive without it, but even God the Almighty took the seventh day to rest. So take advantage of this time to slow down and breathe for just a moment. Even the earth and animals are benefiting from this time of rejuvenation with clearer air and waters than we’ve seen in decades. Whether it be one day in seven, a few months in corona virus quarantine, or even just ten minutes here and there, remember to slow down. Your mind and body will thank you.
Hopefully, we won’t need any more worldwide pandemics to keep these lessons in mind. Many of the resources right here on the My Best Self website can help you be better prepared mentally and emotionally for life’s challenges and to remain stable and healthy through it all, such as our modules on Gratitude, Supportive Relationships, and Self-Compassion.
Now, what have you learned amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic? We’d love to hear the insights you’ve gained during this crazy time!