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Look For the Silver Lining

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

By Ian McKenziePublished 4 years ago 6 min read
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The song “Look For the Silver Lining” was written just over one hundred years ago in 1919, with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by B.G. Sylvia. Many artists have sung the song, but it was made popular by Judy Garland.

Currently there is a very dark cloud hanging over all of us, so it is time to follow the advise given in the song and look for the silver lining. Here is Judy Garland’s version of the song.

Earlier in 2020, none of us could have ever imagined the restrictions and controls that most of us are now under. There is no need for me to mention here the extent of the devastation that this virulent and deadly virus has caused. We are all well aware of that. What I would like to discuss is some of the positives, the silver linings, that have resulted from these restrictive lock-downs and cessation of trading of many businesses.

Family Time

Families have been forced to spend more time together. This can create tensions and cause stress among family members. A lady on a TV panel show last night said, with a smile on her face, that she was “tired of being locked up with her husband”. I am sure she loves her husband very much, but even although she was sounding light hearted, an element of truth and frustration could be detected in what she said.

However, this time of enforced togetherness can be used advantageously. Family members can get to know and understand each other better. Teenage children, not being able to go out to shows or outings with their mates, stay at home and discuss issues with their parents. Families may even have the opportunity to play board games and get involved in other activities together.

Live Performances

Live music and theatre performances are a thing of the past, and hopefully, not too distant future. It is unfortunate that actors, musicians and others in the creative arts industries, are nearly all currently out of work.

Many artists are taking to live streaming on social media platforms and Youtube to show their performance. Here is a link to some shows you can watch from the comfort of your own favourite chair.

People are even coming together to form virtual choirs whilst maintaining social distancing. Here is a rendition of “Somewhere” from “West Side Story” from one of these choirs.

Some generous audience members are donating the fee, or a part of the fee, that they normally would have paid for a concert, to these performers, to assist them through this rough period.

Innovative Coping Strategies

The lock-down has resulted in a host of creative coping solutions. Here are a few examples.

Singing From Balconies in Italy

Dancing in Driveways - An example from Scotland

Clapping for Health Workers - An example from New York city

Bin Isolation Outing

A Facebook group, Bin Isolation Outing, was started by a couple of ladies in Hervey Bay, a coastal area in south-east Queensland, Australia. The originator’s description of the site is, "So basically the bin goes out more than us SO let’s dress up for the occasion! Fancy dress, makeup, tutu ....be creative! Post photos to cheer us up 😝 after all laughter is the best medicine 😷.” I have just checked and there are 839,154 members of the site. By the time you check it out, there will no doubt be more.

People are having fun with their postings on the site. Keeping a sense of humour is important during these trying times.

Technology

There are not many good things that we can associate with a pandemic such as Covid-19. But its timing could be one. Here we are in 2020 with smart phones and the internet. Just imagine how different things would be if this pandemic occurred prior to the 1990’s when there was no world wide web or smart phones for us to access. Even worse, if it had occurred three or four decades earlier when most of us did not have access to a TV, and there was no Netflix or other online entertainment.

In earlier times we did have landline telephones to keep in touch, but long distance calls were expensive. Now with Facetime, Skype, Zoom and other apps, we can not only keep in touch verbally with others throughout the world, but we also have a visual of each other, or others in the case of the apps allowing group online meetings.

This morning I had a Facebook friend request from a ninety-three aunt of mine. Her page had been set up by some of her grand-children. Aunty Esme is now easily able to stay in contact with her many relatives and friends around the globe.

Reading

Some members of a writers group to which I belong have noticed an upsurge in the sales of some of their books in recent times. This is a good thing, not only for the authors concerned, but also for those who are reading the books. Reading is a habit which is not as common as it was before the days of television and the internet. And, it is a habit which should be encouraged from a young age. A University of Edinburgh study has shown that children with strong reading skills are more likely to have higher intelligence levels as young adults. Other studies have shown similar results.

Accessing reading materials is relatively easy, even although traditional book stores and libraries may now be closed. Paperbacks can be delivered to your door from online book sellers. E-books are another option. They are usually relatively inexpensive and can be instantly downloaded. You are welcome to peruse both paperbacks and Kindle books I have published on my Amazon Author’s site. From there you can easily explore other authors and topics on Amazon.

From the silver lining to the light at the end of the tunnel

We are all finding the current restrictions on what we can, or can not, do tough. Not to mention the financial hardships, social and emotional traumas, many of us are facing. Eventually scientists will either find a vaccine for this nasty virus, or will develop medicines to lessen its harm. Perhaps, even both. The virus may even be eventually totally eliminated. This has indeed happened with other viruses such as SARS. Most of us were not around when poliomyelitis was very common with young children. It is now very rare and is controlled through vaccinations. In the 1980’s I remember the horrific advertisements of the grim reaper associated with HIV/Aids. Back then having this virus was, in effect, a death sentence. Scientists still have not developed a vaccine or complete cure for it, but medications have been developed to enable sufferers to live relatively normal healthy lives.

Covid-19 will one day be a former nightmarish period of our lives through which we have passed and come out stronger and better. I, along with you, look forward to that future.

happiness
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About the Creator

Ian McKenzie

Lover of life and all it has to offer. Retired from full-time employment, but keeping busy with things I am passionate about including: family, friends, photography, writing, sustainability and keeping Australian native stingless bees.

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