On Monday night, I spent an hour staring at my laptop screen. My goal was to find a column idea that was not related to the coronavirus update.
I eventually just shut my laptop and went to bed.
So on Tuesday morning (deadline day), I loaded my laptop into my backpack, prepped a food bag with lunch and snacks for a 12-16 hour workday, put in my ear buds and hit “shuffle” on my workout playlist, and hiked to the office.
“Beautiful Day” by U2 came up first. As I looked around, I realized it was, indeed, a beautiful day.
That doesn’t mean the day wasn’t hard for me or you or thousands of other humans. Right now, every day feels hard in its own way.
That was one of my struggles Monday night as I stared at my computer screen. I so desperately wanted to write something positive and uplifting. We all need that right now.
However, I didn’t want to write something that didn’t feel truthful and honest.
And truthfully, there is a lot to worry about right now. Businesses — if they’re still open — are hurting. That includes our business. Newspapers might be an essential business, but that does mean we’re not we’re not being hit hard. Our livelihood is tied directly to the livelihood of other businesses.
But honestly, there are things to be positive about. Personally, I’m still healthy, as are my kids and the rest of my family. I’m still working and getting paid, and I still have a roof over my head.
My financial concerns are still out in the future, although how far into the future is unknown. I know who are already on their second week of being without a job. Their worries are as immediate as it can gets.
A college buddy, Tim, called me from Los Angeles on Monday evening. We have one of those relationships where we’re close, but we don’t necessarily talk very frequently. When I saw him last October, it was the first time we’d been together in about 25 years. He just wanted to know if I was OK, and that call made my night.
I went to bed knowing I’m loved. That feeling can carry you through many difficulties. I climbed out of bed Tuesday morning and staggered into the shower, comforted by the many people and blessings I have in my life.
There are many amazing things happening now, some in spite of our challenges and some because of it. They are small and beautiful. Family get-togethers on Zoom, chalk art on the sidewalks, students playing music and singing outside, kind words delivered via social media and phone calls, fundraisers to help servers and bartenders and others without work.
Bad times bring out the best in so many people. Folks are rediscovering the pleasures of family time and being at home.
There are lots of positives if you look for them. It can be hard to that, especially when reality crashes into your life and upends the things you know.
