GRATEFUL

In the midst of shelter in place due to the coronavirus, I’m grateful that the news media is putting so much of their attention on positive things, like the many ways in which people are helping each other.

 I’m grateful for people who post beautiful pictures of flowers, and for people who post things that make me laugh.

 I’m grateful that so much information is available – there’s a lot that isn’t known, but whatever is known is easily available –

and I’m grateful that I can turn the news off when I want to. 

I’m grateful that I don’t currently have any medical issues, so I don’t have to spend time at the doctor or hospital. 

I’m mildly depressed, but I’m grateful for the knowledge that depression is normal under the circumstances, and for the knowledge that I will get through it. 

I’m grateful that I don’t have school-age kids who don’t have a school to go to. 

I’m grateful for relative financial stability – I need to find a part time job, but if it has to wait for a few months, it won’t be a disaster.

 I’m grateful that I’m not a health care worker.

 I’m grateful that I don’t need to travel.

 I’m grateful that I don’t need to ride the bus.

 I’m grateful for Al-anon and my other 12 Step groups which have taught me to take care of myself.

 I’m grateful that my various support groups are learning how to meet online.

 I’m grateful for Zoom, for Facebook, and for friends who call just to chat.

 I’m grateful that the stores I use are doing everything they can to keep their shelves stocked.

 When I originally wrote this I was grateful for nice weather so I could go for a walk every day – it was mild even when it was raining.

 Now that it’s gotten warmer, I’m grateful for air conditioning.

 I’m grateful for clean air – it was amazing, how quickly the smog went away after people quit driving because of shelter-in-place.

 I’m grateful for my neighbors and for the people in the stores, all of whom are polite about social distancing.

 I’m grateful to my friend who had a spare container of disinfecting wipes.

 I’m grateful for my hoarding tendencies, which are the reason why I have a box of disposable gloves (which I hadn’t used for 20 years).

 I’m especially grateful for my sister Beth.