COVID-19 has significantly impacted our lives in one way or another. In such hard times, we all need a bit of strength to get through the day. Luckily, Hallie is here to deliver a perspective on the pandemic that will hopefully get your mind off things for a bit and give you some joy.
We are living through a momentous snapshot in time. This is the first time that the entire world has come together to stop a common enemy, the Coronavirus. We are all fighting this together by staying apart. This is a hectic and scary time. There are few news stories that do not focus on COVID-19, and it is hard to see the positives. Times like these, however, have a wonderful way of showing our humanity.
Italy held the record for the most cases of Coronavirus for a few weeks and was forced to go into total quarantine. Many Italians began to share a connection through music. A heartwarming trend began, where people would start singing from their balconies while others listened and joined in with instruments and their voices. Beautiful music flooded the streets of vacant Italy as their citizens performed with joy. Music has been an easy, yet vital, way to spread hope and comfort. Many artists and bands have had to cancel their tours and sequester themselves. In an effort to share their joy, many of them have started to perform concerts through Facebook and Instagram Live. Music is lifting us up and bringing us together in a time when we are far apart.
Humanitarian aid efforts have greatly increased. Billie Eilish’s mother has partnered with Los Angeles restaurants to help feed overworked hospital workers. Many professional athletes have decreased their pay in order to pay the salary of those who are not getting paid during forced leave. Kate Brown, the governor of Oregon, has put a hold on all eviction so people can stay safe in a shelter. Food, medical supplies, blankets, health products such as soap and hand sanitizer is being distributed to those in need by not only the government, but also by kind strangers. The Prime Minister of New Zealand reassured kids that the jobs of the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are vital and must carry on in a national press conference. A bull ring in Peru has shut down and reopened as a homeless shelter. Car Rental Companies are providing cheap rentals so college students can return home swiftly and safely.
While all efforts are needed and greatly appreciated, one group stands out above the rest. Medical workers are on the front line of this virus and are taking the worst of it so we can stay safe. Long hours, risk of infection, missing time with loved ones, food and sleep deprivation are among the risks they are juggling. They are often being isolated from their families in hopes to decrease the spread of COVID-19, so thousands of Airbnb Hosts have offered their homes to medical workers free of charge. Humanity needs all of the kindness it can possibly get, and everyone is doing their part to lift others.
Humans are not the only ones being affected by this chaotic time. According to The Happy Broadcast, a company dedicated to sharing the silver linings, people have sought comfort in animals and many animal shelters have had all of their animals adopted into safe and loving families. Dolphins have started to return to the coast of Italy where tour boats have bombarded the waters but are now put in storage. Over 70 elephants in Thailand were permanently freed from giving tourists rides. Britain's near-extinct beaver population has returned and boosted wildlife. We often forget about animals and how our actions affect them. Quarantine has shown us the wonderful changes that happen when nature is in charge.
With negative news from the press bombarding us in every way, it is so easy to feel discouraged and unsure. Finding the positives and focusing on our human kindness is what is going to get us through these rough and crazy times. Stay informed, stay safe and healthy, and stay positive.
Photo Credit:
Balconies in Italy by Melissa Locker and Ashley Hoffman from TIME magazine
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