I’ve learned to appreciate the little things more. For example, I was out on a walk recently and someone had fresh-cut roses from their yard in a bucket of water on the sidewalk, with a sign encouraging passersby to take some. They smelled amazing and it made my day!

There has been more time for introspection. There’s time to fix up things about yourself … spend time on things that I didn’t have time for because I was so busy.

We have gotten a lot better with dog training and fitness! We’ve also started doing house dinners where we all eat together as a family, and we’ve begun doing arts and crafts.

I love that the three of us get to spend so much time together. It can be a lot but certainly my parents did not have this opportunity with their kids and I won’t have this opportunity again with mine. It’s real and it’s life and it reminds me of what’s really important.

My silver lining has been joining my 16-year-old for his daily track workouts. … He never wanted to spend this much time with me pre-quarantine!

When you have to work from home, home can be anywhere you make it. The silver lining for LeShelle and me is that our daughter Simone was able to spend six weeks with us as we all were working from home. That’s the most time we’ve had with Simone at home since she was in high school.

My silver lining has been having Nick home to spend more time with Landon doing things outside, since typically this time of year he’s gone 12+ hours of the day. And seeing Landon do better in subjects in school he typically has struggled with, because we’re working with him one-on-one and because he’s less anxious in front of a camera than in person.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught me that the world can change in a few days. This lesson has reinforced my modus operandi because only through hardships can you test such habits. Living frugally and within your means, saving money, having emergency supplies, and staying positive are just a few.

We have been fortunate to spend significant time as a family and witness the kids develop a loving and playful relationship.

I think everything will become better in the future.

This pandemic has brought suffering to many, but I also see a lot of love, hope and charity. It’s bringing families closer together as we are spending more quality time at home with one another. I have also read and witnessed the charity members of communities have for one another, from small acts of kindness to words of encouragement and support.

Spending more time with her has definitely been the silver lining of the pandemic so far.

My housemates and I have taken this time to enjoy the warm sun in our backyard as we play with our dogs, geek out over a new leaf growing on our plants, and even do yoga together! Now more than ever, am I looking at life half full and appreciating all the little things life has to offer.

We have found the time to be together as a family without the pressures of schedules and the daily runaround to be a wonderful gift. We are doing our best for this time to be one that our kids will remember as one of togetherness and love, and without the fear of what the pandemic means for families not as fortunate as ours. Oh, and carbs.

The pandemic has put a magnifying glass on many sociopolitical issues that are not always evident for those who are mostly sheltered from or unaware of them. This magnification has allowed many people to be grateful for what they do have. And hopefully that gratitude translates into action.