Am I the only one who’s life has changed for the better the last 6 months.

[Snugglesandsmiles25]

I really struggle as I have literally nothing in common with my closest friends regarding this. My daughter ( shielding list ) is still not at school from medical advice, we are still not going to inside busy places etc but my god the last 6 months has been eye opening.
We have played games more than we ever did before, we have danced, baked and sang. We have had all non emergency appointments over the phone without the drama of transport and long waiting times. Have had some essential appointments and treatment. My daughter the past 6 years has spent every winter in hospital our average time in hospital is probably 65 percent be 45 percent at home. It’s now nearly November and we have had 3 admissions since March 2 routine which were for 2 days and 7 days and one emergency which was 3 days. We have never ever been at home as much. She has been so healthy this year one cold after attempting school for 3 days after lockdown with a fever ( the emergency admission that was 3 days )
Other than that I have never seen her so well, we have never had so much freedom. We may even successfully have her Xmas and birthday at home this year if it continues.
I have learned so much about money and how much I usually waste on things that are not needed. Because everyone else was in lockdown or restrictions since we actually heard from people more who are normally so busy with their lives. We spoke to family we hardly ever speak to, friends were all of a sudden wanting to zoom more.
I have just ordered our Xmas decorations it will just be the 2 of us but we are so excited for a potentially great winter of us in our own home.
I know this unique but I don’t have anyone to talk to about it because no one really understands.
🤣

Good for you OP. Great to hear positive lockdown stories too.

I have also enjoyed some aspects of lockdown like a slower pace of life and more time with my nearest family. You have to focus on the positives as you cannot control the negatives.

Good for you OP, nice to hear of some good things in this mess.

I was made redundant which was awful but I got a new job which I don’t like as much tbf but it’s more money so that’s a positive as well.

Thank you for creating this thread, OP. It's lovely to hear some positivity, it's in short supply around here! We all got ill in mid-March, full deck of covid symptoms and lots of others got sick at the same time in the large open plan city offices DH and I worked in. It was an unpleasant and worrying illness, took 6 weeks to break the back of it and 5-6 months to lose residual aches and pains in my lungs.

However, we are both now WFH and it's likely to be permanent (our employers will only be able to take 1/3 of previous occupancy in reconfigured offices, and there's no pressure whatsoever on anyone to return, we are lucky). I no longer spend 15 hours p.w. commuting on dirty, unreliable trains, lugging supermarket shopping home on foot or in a cab. We save a lot of money on commuting and going out, I am happier and more relaxed, life is a lot more convenient.

We are luckier than many in that our older relatives are no longer with us, we don't have any family locally and didn't have big social lives before. Relationships that had got a bit strained can be safely left on the back burner, no expectation that we'll visit. I enjoyed going to the pub and pottering around the shops, but I don't really miss those things all that much. So yeah, I wouldn't choose these circumstances but it's been beneficial for me in many ways.

In many respects I'm not enjoying the pandemic at all. I worry about vulnerable family and friends, I've had to make sacrifices, I've missed out on opportunities that are no longer 'a thing'. I miss seeing the people I care about in a normal, casual way. I miss spontaneity.

But, I cope with the bad stuff by focussing on the positives. Working from home is great. I did it for a while, then went back to the office for most of lockdown, and I'm now back at home. I prefer being at home. I get more done. I have an extra 90 minutes every day that I don't spend commuting. My work/ life balance is much better. I sleep better, I eat better, and I exercise more.

My family are spread out around the world, so I've kept in touch virtually for years, but the difference now is that we get together as a family. We have a quiz night, a film night, a book club, a time when we just chat and catch up. That's absolutely wonderful. I've been close to my cousin in Australia for years, but now my children are are too, and they know her children. If nothing else, I think that is a massive silver lining of an otherwise horrible ordeal.

Also, although I'm in a tier 3 area so pubs are out bounds, when they did reopen in summer, I thought the table service thing was much better than queuing at the bar. I don't know anyone who doesn't agree. I do hope that is one thing that remains after this is all over.

I hate lockdown, and think it’s destroying me. But I am so happy to hearing that it’s benefiting you a bit. You and your daughter sound great, and unlike me, are not wallowing in your problems, but instead getting on with life positively. You are a real role model for someone as negative as me, and I am in awe of your optimism. I can learn a lot from you.

I really hope your little girl continues to stay well, and that you have the best Christmas ever. xx