Overwhelmed with appreciation at the number and types of responses after reaching out to friends about pandemic silver linings for my column last week, I wanted to share even more positivity from our community.
My friend Nikola has a dream of making a living as a creative. Able to continue in his current job during the pandemic, he has also found time to expand his knowledge and skills in the arts.
“What I found out is that the pandemic is pretty good to work on your creative projects,” Nikola said, explaining that creativity helps quell the boredom.
A couple months ago, Nikola released his first collection of handmade clothing, and put on a virtual fashion show. The silver lining to that — more time to photograph and video the pieces he created.
Nikola also started new projects. “There are a lot more online courses available,” he pointed out. He has taken landscape oil painting classes online, and will take another through the New York Academy of Art. He said he wouldn’t have tried this medium without online art classes offered during the pandemic.
Nikola also attends virtual conferences, with their own silver linings. “I can be doing my laundry and attending the conference.”
While some of us have aspired to new career goals, small business owners face much bigger adjustments. They too have found positive ways to frame the changes.
Morgantown Power Yoga owner Suhil found silver linings in having to change his pre-pandemic schedule and finding time for baking. “I think the main one is discovering new things to do,” Suhil said. “I got out of my routine, and really focused on myself.”
Suhil, a very big fan of routines, has discovered the importance of evaluating what he chooses to keep in his routines and what to let go of. “Having a routine is good, but you don’t want to stay safe in your routine,” he said.
He has begun baking bread, and noted his numerous failures in the learning process. He continues working through the challenges of making the perfect sourdough loaf.
“I love bread,” he said, and reminisced about the smells he remembers wafting from his grandmother’s bakery in Afghanistan and the traditional flat bread she made, crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth on the inside.
Suhil has also found a pandemic silver lining in more time spent with his family.
Jodi, owner of photography business As You Are Boudoir, also found a silver lining in the pause of her business — allowing more time with her recently expanded family.
When the pandemic began, Jodi was pregnant and now has a newborn, and said she has found joy in “having the time to really sit in the moment and really enjoy what’s going on.”
Extra time spent with her baby, her husband working from home, and a slower holiday season comprise her silver lining. “I think a lot of people have spoken to that — the pandemic forced us to take a beat and slow down a little,” Jodi said.
What an incredible blessing that during this difficult time people still find slivers of joy and things to be thankful for. We all want the pandemic to end, to stop fearing this virus and to be able to hug our friends and family again. Still, we are able to find positive ways to look at some of the negatives.
I think Jodi put it just right when she said, “if I’ve learned anything in this time, it’s that really dark and really light emotions can coexist.”
