Being grateful is one of the keys to getting through this pandemic. Not only is it good for us spiritually, but it’s good for us physically. (There is brain science behind this.  Look it up!) As I’ve been settling into my new normal, I’ve become aware of all the the things I’m grateful for right now. I made a list, and am sharing it with you to encourage you to do the same. Here’s what I came up with!

*Obviously, this list doesn’t include things I’m always grateful for, like my family, my health and wine.

The South Florida sun.  Previously the bane of my existence due to its frizz-inducing humidity and unrelenting power to make unsightly brown spots appear on even the most tended-to skin, I now love the weather of my native state.  It’s warm. Like, deliciously warm. Which means my kids and I can go outside whenever we want in shorts and tank tops and soak up some vitamin D. In another time, I might have downplayed how awesome this weather is so as not to upset my friends in Montana and Wisconsin, but I gotta be real.  Being able to chill in a hammock in my backyard whenever I want to is pretty flippin’ great.  

Cleaning products that contain chemicals.  I used to be sort of green with this. I have a lot of amazing microfiber cloths that clean hard and soft surfaces alike with just water.  Beneath my sink you used to be able to find household cleaners that boasted safe, environmentally-friendly solutions. But now? Give me bleach.  Give me harsh chemicals. In fact, give me any cleaning agent that is deadly and toxic. If it works to clean up crime scenes, I want it. I’ll never doubt you again. 

Appliances. For those of us in South Florida, preparing for a COVID-19 quarantine felt sort of like preparing for a hurricane.  In some ways, of course, it’s way worse, with its lack of an end in sight and potential to permanently change the world as we know it.  But in at least one huge way, quarantine is way better than a hurricane, because, well, we have electricity. Can you imagine what life would be like right now if you didn’t have a refrigerator?  I’ve lived through that, if only for a few days, and trust me, girlfriend, it ain’t pretty.  

My backyard.  Man, did I used to disregard this lush, beautiful, ginormous backyard as boring, buggy and intolerably warm.  Today, I can’t get enough of it. I am so grateful that my kids have a safe place in which to run around, swing, slide, throw a frisbee, kick a ball and shoot each other relentlessly with water guns.  I am so grateful that my husband and I have a place to kick back after work to get fresh air, green grass and blue sky with a glass of wine. I love this backyard. I can’t believe I ever wasted a single minute not loving it.  

The clutter zones in my house. The mess at every turn gives me something to do in my “down” time.  (I dunno, is that just me?) When this is over, there won’t be a junk drawer or linen closet in this house that’s been spared.  

Time to cook. I didn’t learn how to cook until I was 28 and divorced.  “It’s an important life skill,” I decided, as I enrolled for a four-week long cooking class at my local Publix Aprons store.  During that month, I absolutely fell in love. I learned how to deglaze a pan, how to create emulsions and developed serious knife skills. 

I also learned that legit cooking takes time. As I got busier with wifey-ness and motherhood, I began to write off cooking as a luxury, for people who have a ton of time or who actually get paid to do it. But these days, I’m rolling in it.  I love that I have the time to dice and sauté and that I actually understand what a Maillard reaction is. Bring it, quarantine. I ain’t got nothin’ but time and hunks of meat, baby. 

My stockpile of frozen vegetables, fish and potatoes. Although my husband has always been down with me buying frozen salmon and French fries, I think he used to secretly think it was silly that I insisted on buying organic frozen vegetables.  In his defense, I hardly ever used them. But I always made sure our freezer was full of them, much to his chagrin. Well! Who’s silly now!  

Having breakfast, lunch and dinner with my husband and kids.  At best when the world is spinning normally, I have dinner twice a week with all three of these humans at the same time.  Except for Sundays, I never ever get to share all three meals with my beautiful family. I am loving that we enjoy every meal together now.  Am I running my dishwasher every single day as a result? Yep. But I’ll take it.  

Being outside.  People who know me well know that, except for anything at all related to tennis, I’m more of an “indoor” girl.  I don’t like to sweat unintentionally. I think camping is like, so Blair Witch.  And I don’t do dirt and bugs.  Typically, I prefer to enjoy life from air-conditioned spaces with outlets and proper seating. I appreciate man-made flooring.  But right now, wouldn’t you know it? I crave being outside. I go for a walk with my kids every morning just to see, hear and feel the nature on our street in suburbia.  I take deep breaths of fresh air and give thanks to God for the expansion in my lungs. I don’t think I’ll ever again be judgy about the outdoors after this. Heck, maybe I’ll even go camping!  (But probably not).

UPS, FedEx and USPS.  I seriously don’t know what I’d do without these folks.  Yeah, they bring me all the crap I’ve been recklessly ordering online, but you know what else?  They make me feel connected to the outside world, at no small risk to themselves. I am beyond grateful for them.  They are truly essential.  

Disney+, HGTV and Netflix.  There is just something so comforting about The Avengers, a solid, dirty reno and reruns of The Office.  Am I right? 

The thigh-high pile of books I’ve been meaning to read. No joke, that pile looms quite high above the ground.  But wahoo! I have time to read those books now! And I’m gonna.  For reals. I’m gonna. #leadersarereaders #writersread

My bicycle.  Goodness gracious, I love that thing right now.  I get fresh air, exercise and family time all rolled into one activity.  Why have I been letting that thing collect dust in my garage for so long?

FaceTime.  Do you remember back in the day at EPCOT when there was a ride called “Horizons,” about what life would be like in the future?  For some reason the scene where people could talk to each other and see each other over video always stuck in my brain as something super cool. When FaceTime became a real thing I was all, “It’s like EPCOT!  Remember?! They said!”

I am so grateful today that this technology is commonplace, that it ain’t no thang to connect with our families and friends in real time and real life over video conference.  FaceTime play dates have literally transformed my kids from sullen and bored to vibrant and excited again.

Today, even though we are socially “distant,” in some ways, I feel closer than ever to my family and friends. We actually talk now instead of just texting. We make time to see each other, whereas we might have let months go by without if everything was “normal.” It reminds me in a beautiful way that we’re all in this together. We are all connected. And that’s one thing from this quarantine that I hope never goes away.

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Now, more than ever, we should be grateful. Focus on what is good in your life. Have an attitude of gratitude, girlfriend. And while you’re at it, drop a comment below to share what you’re thankful for today.