I, like I think probably everybody, is feeling more than a little out of sorts. Literally, in less than two weeks, our world has changed completely. Shelter in place orders, jobs lost or put on hold, schools closed, restaurants closed, sports seasons put on hold…who knew that toilet paper would become THE hot commodity? Everything feels a bit off…a bit odd.

I have seen a lot of posts of ‘I’m tired of this stupid virus flooding everything I’m looking at, but let’s focus on the good…’ I suppose in a way, I’m jumping on that bandwagon. But, let me give you a glimpse of my journey from there to here…

As y’all know, I’m a flight attendant. So, we were getting a lot of questions from passengers about our level of concern about this virus. And, to be honest, in the beginning, we really weren’t. We are kind of hyper about washing our hands anyway…then the flights started canceling. No Hong Kong. No Peking. No Shanghai. Okay, I can’t hold those routes anyway. Then it was Sydney and Aukland. Still can’t hold those, but dang, that’s a lot of flight attendants that are senior to me that still need/want to fly. Then Europe…okay, now my vacation plans have been upended in addition to even more flight attendants that need to fly. Now my airline is offering extended leaves of absence and an option of early out (retirement) for those who qualify. For those of us that neither of those options are an option, we wait. Will they announce furloughs? I seriously check my work email multiple times a day…wondering…hoping…praying…that THAT email isn’t in there.

To say that my anxiety has gotten a workout lately would be an understatement.

There is so much that is totally and completely out of our control.

But, if you look around, there is so much good to be seen.

John and I walk every day. We head out in the early morning and again in the afternoon…and there are so many people out walking too. More than we have ever seen. Some with their children, lots and lots with their dogs. People are smiling, saying ‘hello’. Just this morning, as we were walking, John made a comment that he’s not sure just how it’s going to feel to go back to ‘…finishing up at work and rushing to a ballgame’.

There seems to be a slowing down, a realization of what’s really important.

So many stores are opening early so that the elderly can shop at their pace, without the crowds. Families seem to reconnecting (both near and far). Basically, it seems as though all of the bullshit has been stripped away. It’s as though we are all remembering what is truly important…and focusing on the good.

So, my challenge to myself and to all of you is this.

Find the good in each day.

Thank the grocery store employees (and honestly anyone who’s open or delivering).

Look up.

See the sky, breathe in the fresh air.

Enjoy the comfortable silence.

See the love in the eyes of those you love.

We will heal.