This lockdown is forcing a reset for the planet.

[XingMing]

Where we are, it's rural, beautiful and in fine weather (after six months of rain) this lockdown seems like an opportunity rather than a penance. It's spring, we are gardening. The air is fresher, the sky is clearer, emissions are down across the planet. It's not exciting, but it is an interlude to enjoy family life before DS leaves home for university and starting his career. It's a very special time and I shall treasure the memory of this month. Am I alone in making the most of the moment? (We have aged parents to worry about too but as they are well into their 80s, I know they are not bothered about getting the telegram from the Palace.)

Me, dh and dd are at home and have been since the beginning of March, the garden is beautiful, and we are enjoying the sunshine. Might have a bbq if the weather holds out, no visitors obviously.
Likewise all our income gone, business lost, take years to recover, but we're alive and making the most of it, keeping our peckers up.

Treasuring the memory?! Really?!!

I get what you mean.

Depressingly though, after the credit crunch countries went for easy dirty growth through fossil fuels to try to kickstart the economy. Will probably happen again.

I'm enjoying my baby and 3yo but I would prefer not to do it 24/7.

I'm putting my life on the line going in to the hospital to look after people and have had to check my will is up to date.

Not exactly a barrel of laughs here.

Would love some sunny garden time but it's annual leave cancelled and extra work.

I do agree that it is good to make the most of it if you are in a fortunate position and hopefully people will have chance to learn how to cook, garden and craft. Probably best not rub it in for those facing death or financial ruin though.

YANBU
Just out of interest I looked at flightradar earlier, usually it's a mass of planes flying all over the world, so much so it's just a big yellow blur of them - you can pick out individual ones even when you're zoomed out so there'll be much less pollution in the air.
Sometimes it's nice to appreciate the little things as pp said YANBU in terms of trying to keep your mental well being strong by appreciating the small things in life. Sometimes it is the best way to get through a very stressful time

No, PinkiOcelot, I am treasuring my memories of what will almost certainly be the last long period I spend with my young adult son, before he spreads his wings and leaves home for the real world. I am not suggesting that your experience is even close to similar.

@XingMing

YANBU to think it's great that the planet is healing/getting better/re-setting etc, etc, and God knows the fecking planet NEEDS it.

YABU to promote this as a lovely cuddly piece of family time. It's hugely stressful for many, because of money worries, businesses potentially closing down, and kids who can't go out to play, can't go to school, can't do exams they have studied for 2 or 3 years to do!

It's like a fucking apocalypse, and like some surreal dystopian netflix drama.

It's worrying and upsetting for many. Whilst me and DH are ok as our DC are independent adults who have left home, (and DH is being paid 80% of his salary, whilst I work from home,) there is still a small risk his place will close down in the coming months.

I’m in a horrible position and I enjoyed reading your lovely post OP! Enjoy your family time.

Just out of interest I looked at flightradar earlier, usually it's a mass of planes flying all over the world, so much so it's just a big yellow blur of them - you can pick out individual ones even when you're zoomed out so there'll be much less pollution in the air. Sometimes it's nice to appreciate the little things

Yes. Appreciate the little things. Global trade, global tourism has ground to a halt. It must take a certain kind of bovine insularity to celebrate the cessation of global economic activity as a positive. I guess this is the result of being entirely dislocated from the concept that industry is bankrolling the entire house of cards.

Don't rub people's faces in it. You might jinx it for yourself. Enjoy your garden but have the sense and decency to keep it to yourself.

Filled with anxiety my graduation in July cancelled etc. So NOT happy

@XingMing I’m sorry, I’m just in a mood with myself tonight. I’m worried about my mam who is in a care home and I haven’t seen for weeks.
The weather has been lovely today and looking out it was hard to believe what really going on.

I get where you are coming from although I know lots of families are in extremely challenging times. Being grateful for what you have is not a crime as long as you are socially minded imo. I feel very privileged that I can wfh (atm), dh and dc are at home too and we don't need to leave the house, unless we need groceries. At the minute I feel safe in my house and am enjoying cocooning my little family. The longer we spend isolating the less I feel anxious. Not all roses though as dh no longer has a job and can't get one- unsurprisingly nobody is interviewing or hiring! But we can manage for a while.

I so admire front line and essential workers. I feel anxious even leaving the house to go to the corner shop ( a big chain) in case I catch something yet the people working there have to do it, and where I am they are not provided with protective gear. When this is all over I'm going to try and give something small back to my community, e.g. supporting the village pub by buying vouchers and giving it to the shop workers. I know it's not much but I really appreciate those putting themselves at risk for others.

I'm also an nhs worker but not front line (work with vulnerable families). Atm I can work from home using technology to support those families but there's talk that I'll be redeployed which I am happy to do if I can help. For now I have to grateful though.

God loves a trier Xing, you must know by now that the MN party line is No Joy At All.

The fact is, there are little moments. Less traffic means you can hear birdsong. Colleagues are creating amazing order from chaos. Unexpectedly kindnesses are overwhelming. A walk is bliss. It's fun hearing DS talking to his teachers in Meet and taking breaks between lessons and online meetings in the Spring sunshine.

It's like keeping the horror of the reality back with a whip and chair.

I agree OP that there may be a few silver linings somewhere in all this.

The water in Venice is teeming with fish swimming in clear blue water. Dolphins have been seen further out near Venice for the first time in decades. NASA took a measure of pollution over China before and during COVID-19 and the pollution cloys was virtually gone.

Sat in my own garden today, I could hear no cars or aeroplanes (I live near a large regional airport). I saw a pair of Robins all day in the garden which made me think they had a nest nearby. I swear there were more butterflies than normal. The dog slept in the sun at my feet.

Me and my DH are both self employed. Luckily my work is from home anyway so we can limp on together somehow at much reduced income. My family are all 5 hours away from me and I haven't seen them since January anyway. We were due a big family visit over Easter.

But yet - my teens are happy, lying in, doing bits of online learning (not enough I'm sure). They don't seems worried or have day to day friendship niggles or lesson stress. I'm speaking to my family over Zoom. Doing a jigsaw.....

There have been a few times in the past few days that I've been content.

YANBU OP. I am trying to remain calm but trying to appreciate the small things like the beautiful weather today and spending more time with my family.
If I think to big I start to panic so I am following the guidelines and trying to find small joys.

The situation is obviously dreadful but i am enjoying working from home and local community is making strong connections online. I am worried about my adult children, grandchildren and elderly relatives as well as our jobs and future finances. As this time goes on I will get increasingly sad about not seeing them all. Trying to keep positive however.

@doublehelix, grateful for everything you are doing. I have no skills of use to the NHS or any other public service or I would be offering them. I was discarded as too old to teach at 50. If I could help others learn to cook or garden (no crafting lessons from me... am the cow holding knitting needles), I would do so gladly. All that I can do to be useful is to help keep a small business afloat so that there is some tax paid to meet your future pay cheques.

No I’m not having a standstill
I work for a charity and am working more hours than usual from home to Co ordinate all my staff to respond to people who are isolated, Ill, disabled or with poor mental health
Some of my staff are ill and those that aren’t need other support eg for anxiety
Apart from a quick visit to drop off some shopping to DM 81 with Alzheimer’s I’ve not left the house in days
I’m hoping to at least do some gardening this weekend

I know what you mean OP

It is all a bit surreal

We are heading for a massive recession of the type nobody our age has experienced

Yet there are silver linings, and I am not going to rain on your parade

It is a scary time full of anxiety, yet I could appreciate a sunny day today, and the fact that instead of planes flying over our house, we have silence, birdsong, and some birds of prey swooping over.

Maybe twee and sentimental, but yes I appreciated that moment and this day

We may as well celebrate any silver linings we can see today, as the future is uncertain. It was always uncertain, but many of us might have had a (false) sense of security and we, and the planet, will have to refind our balance

Stay positive and counting your blessings if you are lucky enough to have them

But hey. I guess some can always find cause to celebrate the cessation of global trade and travel in the wake of a lethal virus.

Well, emissions kill people too. People die every year because of the poor air quality in cities, for example. Something that improves that air quality may well spare some of them. They aren't any more or less important than the people who have died or will die of coronavirus.

My cousin and her partner, late 70s, have head health problems but now quite fit and well live in a lovely house with garden and swimming pool. Not a rural area but in a desirable neighbourhood. They are really enjoying gardening and looking forward to swimming and eating al fresco (maybe BBQ but that depends on what food they can buy). I said to her that at the end of this crisis they will both emerge, lean and tanned.

I am feeling quite poorly but very much enjoyed your post XingMing
I hope you continue to find the beauty in life.

Even in War times people looked for the silver lining.
The songs were positive, and people appreciated being alive.
This is nowhere near as bad as the war, people are so set in their ways, chasing around like headless chickens, even now it's all work work work. I hope people end up with a better work/life balance, are nicer and more understanding of people who live their life differently to themselves.
Work and money are not that important as long as you can feed and house yourself.
Having lost everything, we can't lose anymore, but we're alive and I'm grateful for that every morning I open my eyes.