COVID: Grumps and Gratitudes (5 each)–AND Resources

Like everyone else, I’ve been a bit grumpy (and a lot horrified) as the world shuts down to slow the spread of the killer virus COVID-19. But I also find myself being grateful for some of the changes.

Grumps (things I miss a lot)

1. Hugs (I still get them with my beloved spouse, thankfully)
2. Gathering with friends in person
3. Travel
4. Potlucks
5. Restaurants

   

Gratitudes (places where I see improvement)

1. Gatherings of widely dispersed friends and family over Zoom (tonight, we’re hosting a Passover Seder with participants in seven US states)
2. Still finding ways to make new friends–like the Sustainability Director for a major US city who became my friend after we were in the same breakout room in a Zoom webinar (and who then had me present to her daughter’s online learning group of high school kids)
3. An explosion of “compassionate creativity,” from the Italians singing on their balconies to the outpouring of live and recorded concerts, Broadway shows, and more, to the business owners who still pay their idled staff
4. The people who are using this situation to examine where our society could be improved both now and even long after the crisis ends: developing new approaches in addressing the carbon/climate crisis, education, transportation, health care, bringing people out of poverty, and more
5. Watching people rediscover nature (all the hiking and biking trails near me are getting heavy use) and realize that there’s more to life than looking at screens all the time

Resources

Forbes Magazine’s list of aid programs for US businesses

Good article on the impact of Coronavirus on corporate social responsibility

Extensive list of resources for businesses trying to cope (mostly Australian)

While-you-wait résumés over Zoom and free résumé critiques by email—and if you’re unemployed because of the virus, your first cover letter is a gift when you get your résumé written (this is an offer from me personally)

What are your highlights in this time? Please post in the comments.