gratitude /ˈɡratɪtjuːd/
noun
One of the mottos that I always try to live by (apart from the basic 'have courage and be kind') is 'give thanks and be grateful'. This has less to do with my Catholic upbringing, and more with attaining happiness, satisfaction and contentment from my life at any given moment. In various studies conducted over time, correlations between gratitude and improvements in mood and overall emotional well-being have been observed (once again, the Psychology student in me raises her head). Which is why, in trying times such as these, it is important to strive to remember the good that could arise from this situation, which is often overshadowed by the complaints we generate while holed up in our black hole of self-pity and bleak isolation! So here are some of my reasons to be grateful for the Great Pandemic of 2019-2020 :) 1. Increased family bonding time! On a normal school, my schedule looks somewhat like this:
Not ideal. Like many other households in Singapore, both my parents work, and they often come home sometime between 7-9pm due to their work or personal schedules. Meanwhile, my sister lives an ocean away in the UK, expending her brain cells on a Master's degree in Chemistry, and on weekends, with my (and my parents') various enrichment activities, we barely see each other from morning 'til night. Basically, the only time we're all at home is from 12-8am, when everyone's snoozing away. Even the sacred mealtimes, once a treasured, untouchable hour of conversation over food, have been forgone in the light of work and other commitments. However, with the rapid closing of schools, services and offices, I've once again found myself surrounded by my family, a sight that's been absent since a solid few years ago. My dad works from home, my mum quit her job (unrelated to the virus), and my sister got sent back across the ocean. And the communal mealtimes, once a rare sight to see, are back with a vengeance. Indeed, my family life has been fulfilled in so many ways that wouldn't be otherwise possible - we now spend hours lounging in front of the television, catching up over dinner (or lunch, or breakfast) and pampering our dog (who, I must say, is very happy with the attention he's been receiving). Our previously quiet, empty house, has had life and vigour breathed into it once more. 2. Cleaner seas, rivers and air! The conservationist in me must include this!! Like many tabloid and news articles have mentioned, carbon emission and air pollution levels have plunged dramatically in the widespread efforts by governments to clamp down on the spread of the coronavirus. There has been an estimated 25% decrease in carbon emissions in China the same four-week period as the previous year, and air and road traffic in the UK has also dropped by a massive amount (Source: NBC News and The Guardian). Meanwhile, the death toll on animals as a result of vehicle roadkill will surely dip, with less cars on the road as more containment measures are implemented. Animals have been spotted roaming freely in places around the world where they have never been previously seen, and the invigorating scent of fresh air (with the occasional cigarette smoker) has once again permeated the neighbourhoods. But, as always, we have to be aware of the efforts countries and companies might take to recoup the many economic losses that have been suffered once the crisis subsides, which might overturn any successful steps we have taken towards sustainability. Already, bills are being passed in the United States that relax enforcement of laws passed to regulate pollution, and others might follow as the Earth is set back into motion. 3. More sleep... On a smaller, more personal level, the implementation of home-based learning has definitely boosted my sleep levels. With the school day starting at 8.55am and no travel time needed to take into account, I've been waking up about 2.5 hours later than I normally do, and the added few hours of shut-eye have done wonders for rejuvenating the mind. My normal five or six hours of sleep have now been extended to a healthy eight hours, making me feel more in control of and in tune with my brain, which is no longer focused on the constant, plaguing question of 'How should I best take a nap without my teacher noticing?'. With all the negativity and complaints that have been circulating on the internet and social media about not being able to hang out with friends or go to malls and cinemas, I hope that we all remember to always be grateful for the blessings that we have, no matter how small and insignificant they might seem. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, His love endures forever." - Psalms 107:2 - Love, Ashley x P.S. Fellow theatre kids will have (hopefully) noticed that the theatrical play 'What The Constitution Means To Me' inspired the post title.
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