3 Surprising Ripple Effects Thanks to the Pandemic

If we can stop complaining long enough, our silver linings will surface

Wow! 2020 has been a super weird year.

We’re not panicking anymore, and the toilet paper is plentiful, but we still can’t get back to what we consider normal.

Our small talk isn’t about the weather anymore — have you noticed that? Idle chit chat with the store clerk has morphed into mask discomfort, job loss and rising case numbers.

The virus hit me close to home a few weeks back, and it’s flat out scary when you don’t know how it will play out. It’s no wonder depression is trending at an all-time high along with the divorce rate.

It’s been tough to manage the necessary changes to our lives all at once.

Unprecedented times will cause ripple effects we can’t predict. But we’re complaining so much about what we’re missing and can’t do; we fail to see what’s better.

Some of the ripples will cause temporary lifestyle changes, and others will insight permanent transformations. Some will suck, and some won’t, but they’ll happen, regardless of how you feel about them.

Our media also continues to flood our world with the pandemic's negative effects, so let’s do something different.

Just for shits and giggles, let’s toss another stone in the water and follow the positive ripple effects across our lives.

When I stopped complaining about our circumstances and deliberately looked for silver linings — what I found surprised me.

Negative #1 — No Restaurants, Movies or Concerts

Going to our favourite restaurants for a yummy plate of chilli nachos and a glass of Cab Sav (or whatever blows your skirt up) has become a thing of the past, and we miss it, dammit!

At first, it was aggravating to have that wonderful indulgence or the sheer convenience on a busy day taken away.

For me trying new places to eat with great wine was a fun part of life. It was also the main ingredient on our entertainment menu, along with seeing a great movie on an IMAX screen and going to rock concerts.

So ya, it pissed me off that all those things ended and became unsafe.

The Silver Lining

Now that some of the restrictions have been lifted on restaurants, we went back a few times to eat on the patio. The weather was great, so it was fun, and we rejoiced in the “normal” once again.

But…

The pain in our guts 30 minutes later and the after-effects in the bathroom the next day had us scratching our heads.

We’ve come to realize that months of clean eating and having control of our fresh ingredients has made our bodies super sensitive to the garbage you eat in everyday restaurants.

It was a big red flag, as I’m sure you’ve noticed too.

So our silver lining is that we’ve adopted a new healthier lifestyle. The only side-effects of staying out of the restaurants (other than less entertainment) are weight loss, better health and saving a ton of money!

We’ve also decided to stick to our new routine, and it’s been easy to refrain because we’ve had “pandemic time” to break our old habits — awesome, right?!

Negative #2 — Cancelled Travel

Oh, don’t get me started on this one!

It’s been one of the toughest things to adapt to for most of us. Some folks were stuck on cruise ships, in other countries or away from their families.

We didn’t suffer anything that dramatic, but we had four trips in the hopper planned and paid for when we got locked down in March.

Having them cancelled on us and begging for refunds took time and energy we didn’t have. Not to mention the stress of having airlines, like West Jet, continue to hold our trip money hostage.

The Silver Lining

I’ve noticed people have adapted to this one at a fantastic rate.

Trailer/camper sales have quadrupled this past summer across Canada and the States as families opted for simple local vacations.

Let’s consider the positive effects of less travel stress and finding ways to make an uncomplicated family vacation fun again.

Judging also, by the record lumber and pool sales this year, I’d say the masses are investing in home improvements and have made significant strides in finding ways to enjoy their biggest investment — their homes!

Buying locally and having “staycations” instead of insisting on international travel will help our economies stabilize and bounce back from the pandemic.

Oh, joy oh bliss…another silver lining!

Negative #3 — Job Loss

This one’s been tough for everyone.

Losing income isn’t fun no matter how it happens, and we couldn't see this one coming. Many people have returned to work now, but there was some definite fallout that may become permanent.

Because I lost my corporate job back in the last economic crash of 2008, this one didn’t affect me as much as it did others. I decided back then that I’d find ways to earn multiple streams of income online rather than rely on a 9 to 5 ever again.

It only took until 2020 for me to be extra grateful for that decision. You may have decided to do the same, as it’s become quite apparent that we need to become more self-sufficient.

The Silver Lining

More big companies and individuals have realized that remote work is the way to go. It reduces stress, costs and commutes, which are all positive outcomes.

Others will realize that their creative side will have some room to breathe as we open our minds to new challenges and possibilities.

In talking to family and neighbours, there are more people deciding to retire. Whether it’s a bit early or overdue, it helps us make those decisions and move forward in different directions.

Finding our passions and other things we’re good at is enlightening, and we’re being infused with a much-needed dose of personal development as well.

For example, my sister had enough of a break from her hair salon (and her chronic wrist/shoulder pain) that she decided to retire and close her shop. She’s since launched a pet portrait business online, and her passion for creating her art has her happier than she’s been in a long time.

I know she’s not alone…another superb silver lining!

Wrapping it Up

Yes, adjusting to this pandemic has been rough, and my heart goes out to those who’ve suffered the viral symptoms or lost loved ones through this crisis.

But look at us coming through it!

We’re adapting to these unprecedented times and finding ways to embrace the changes we’ve had to face.

I bet if you dig a little deeper, for every negative, you can find a positive silver lining to keep your hopes up and get you through.

Now toss your own stone and see if you can find those positive ripples!

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I’m Liz, the self-empowered, red wine & coffee lovin’, personal growth fanatic behind this article. I’ve stopped shrinking into places I’ve outgrown, and I’m a fan of straight talk and practical solutions. That’s why I’m here to Empower, Educate and Entertain.