You Are Allowed To Feel Good In Bad Times

Here is another confession: I feel fantastic with this arrangement. 

At least, as long as I stay off of social media.

I avoid Twitter and Facebook not because of all the corona-news, but because there is this new "trend" of shaming people who don't feel as shitty and anxious as everyone else. If you are less affected than everyone else, or - the horror - if you are even doing well with how things are working out right now, you are not welcome to share this info.

I've heard things like: 

"You are romanticising social distancing! People are suffering!"

"Stop sharing stuff about how it's so cosy in self-quarantine! A lot of people have it bad!"

"There's nothing positive about the current situation! This is THE WORST".

I have seen several posts that made a disturbing logical connection between "you don't feel terrible right now" and "clearly, you don't care enough about all the other people who are suffering".

I don't know what the purpose of these posts is. However, I don't much care for being told that I have to feel bad or, barring that, I am not a good person due to a shocking lack of public anxiety.

The truth is that while the COVID-19 pandemic is tragic on a global level, there is still room for positive experiences on an individual level. Yes, it affects a lot of people in horrible ways, but there are also people doing well. 

There is always room for small blessings amid big misfortunes and I, for one, will take all the blessings I can get. 

All of them. 

I will celebrate every one of them because to me, that's what makes life beautiful.

I get excited every morning because my husband makes me coffee. And omelettes. I feel ridiculously blessed because I get to have breakfast with him every day. Earlier today, I teared up because I got to work on my math homework in my gorgeous living room, window open, sun shining, birds chirping.

I also love seeing how people come together in my small town and how respectful and mindful everyone is. There is terrific cake to be had at the bakery across the street. The butcher ladies are still good for a chat.

Yes, I know I am pretty lucky. But here's the thing, "being lucky" doesn't take anything away from anyone else. Nobody got "more unlucky" because of how things worked out for me. 

What's more, I get to cheer up and help my friends who are not doing so well because I have smiles and the energy to spare.

 So, if you are one of the people who feel good right now, please remember this: 

It's alright for you to feel good. It's terrific and very helpful - especially if you can cheer someone else up. 

I am excited that you are doing well!