Being Thankful Even in the Midst of a Pandemic

by Faizun Kamal

2020. It has been a year like no other any of us has ever experienced. In March, we began living in the biggest crisis of our lifetimes – the COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of weeks, our lives lost all semblance of normalcy. Eating out, grocery shopping, taking a walk, meeting with friends and family – we could no longer do the things that we have always taken for granted. Life, as we knew it, changed in the most fundamental ways.

As we head into Thanksgiving and the holiday season, it might seem like there is little to be thankful for. While no one is happy about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on everyday life, there are silver linings. If we pay attention and listen, life is always teaching us, and there are lessons to be learned. As an entrepreneur, mom, wife, daughter and friend, here are some of my biggest lessons learned (or relearned) from this unprecedented year.

1. Savor what you have with who you have.

When we realized that we had a silent killer in our midst, we were reminded of the fragile nature of life. While it is frustrating to be quarantined or feel restricted in the things we can do, we can choose to take the time we have with our families as another opportunity to love more, support greater and be grateful for all that we have.

With so many Americans dead from this virus, we are reminded of the fragile and fleeting nature of our lives. Nothing is guaranteed to us beyond this very moment.

2. We may not all be in the same boat but we are all in the same storm.

Whether it is a family member struggling with loneliness or my 7-year-old daughter feeling sad that she cannot play with her classmates at school or a friend battling uncertainty from a layoff, I am reminded every day that the pandemic has created different kinds of struggles for people. While the nuances of our particular situation may be different, the struggle is not.

The racial and social upheavals of the summer also served as a stark reminder that we all have different yet similar experiences, that the things that bind are always greater than those that divide. Understanding that everyoneis fighting their very own battle, exacerbated by the pandemic, can go a long way towards making this unpredictable world a little kinder.

3. Change is the only constant.

If there is one constant in life, it is change. Realizing that we must always expect the unexpected helps us build a muscle that makes us resilient – emotionally, mentally, psychologically. I never thought I would have to be a fulltime teacher to my daughter, yet that is what I have been since September when her school transitioned to online classes. As a business owner, I had a business plan for the year. Barely into the first quarter of 2020, everything got upended and I had to pivot to survive and then thrive.

Building resilience to deal with change is a particularly wonderful lesson for children. When school began in September, my daughter was sad because she would not be able to see her friends, play during breaks and do group activities.As the weeks have gone on, however, she has settled into a daily school routine in front of her laptop,understanding that this is what she has to do to stay safe and keep her friends safe.

4. Bringing our best selves to everything we do.

When the pandemic began, we saw different responses from different people. Some reached out to support others less fortunate than them. Others hoarded resources. We saw human nature at its best, and worst. Bringing a casserole for an elderly neighbor, donating to make sure kids who can no longer go to school can still eat, sending a care package to a friend who just lost his job. It doesn’t matter what we do, just that we do something for another.

I don’t believe 2020 has been a wasted year. While the pandemic has been disruptive, our reaction to it need not be. Indeed, as life came to a halt, it made me slow down to reflect on how I live my life, doing work with purpose and meaning, and treating others with kindness and grace. A couple of weeks ago, my daughter stopped in the middle of her online class and came over to me, across the dining table and said, “I love how we are spending all day together, Mama!” I didn’t have the words to respond so I just held her tight.

Faizun Kamal is a nationally-renowned public speaker and career strategist. As CEO of The Franchise Pros, Faizun coaches people nationwide on making the transition from employee to entrepreneur. She provides guidance to embrace chaos, fear, insecurity and uncertainty as doorways of opportunity to help individuals find their “perfect fit” business based on an assessment of their personal, lifestyle and income goals. She guides clients to move beyond career burnout to build a sustainable career that they love! Email Faizun at faizun@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com or call 443-604-6276.