We have had our share of challenges this year. Some people are frustrated and angry with all the changes they’ve had to make. Others go with the flow. You can look at the situation as constraints, complaining about all you’ve had to give up. Or you can appreciate what you have. Take a look at your glass. What are you “full of”, limits or opportunities?
I just returned from a road trip that took me across 1,727 miles in 15 days. I carefully respected all social distancing and mask-wearing protocols. In spite of the changes in my normal travel habits—planes, hotels, restaurants—I drove, slept, and dined mostly in my new “mobile office”.
It was…different.
This trip was actually exhilarating! I put a lot more thought into “getting there” than I previously have done. With more thought behind this road trip, I believe I got more out of it. I was able to see areas I would normally fly over. I spoke to people at gas pumps, convenience stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and roadside farmstands that I would never have met if I weren’t driving. Those conversations, however brief, were always uplifting. Even those as simple as “have a great and safe day”. Maybe those in particular.
I had the luxury of stopping where I wanted. I fed my curiosity about places that boasted “Best Boiled Peanuts” and “Fresh From the Oven”, and even “Cleanest Restrooms!”. I admit, many fell short of their promises—some just slightly while others were grossly exaggerated. But it was fun to find out!
Sure, this trip took more time without the speed of air travel, but the experience was indeed an opportunity to take in much more. I also had the freedom from flight schedules, which allowed me to adjust my stays as needed. I wasn’t bound by hotel check-in and check-out times.
My glass remains half full.
We need to appreciate all that we have right now and stop griping about what we don’t.
Be thankful for your health, because so many people are suffering.
Be thankful for the roof over your head. No matter how crowded and noisy it is, you have a place to live. And that noise is the sound of family, another thing that deserves your gratitude.
Be thankful for your job. If you’re working in new home sales, thank your lucky stars that this bizarre situation has created sales opportunities. In fact, new homes are selling at a record pace. People who are sheltering at home have realized their current homes don’t fit and, with the added incentive of historically low interest rates, new homes are more appealing than ever.
Be thankful for technology. If this pandemic occurred even 10 years ago, we wouldn’t have had all the tools to bypass physical contact, like Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, GrubHub, Instacart, DoorDash, and UberEats. Online learning existed but it fell far short of the sophistication of today’s educational platforms.
We wouldn’t have had streaming movies and television. Stores wouldn’t be as readily equipped for curbside pick-up. And we didn’t have all the mobile payment options that are literally at our fingertips now. For all you coffee fanatics, you would have had the Starbucks mobile app, which launched in 2009, but not with all the features you enjoy today.
Be thankful for the opportunity to change. This is a big one. We’ve been presented with the chance to take a fresh look at our lives. Use the time that was otherwise spent on time-sucking activities and put it toward growth and learning. Change the way you exercise or what you eat. Try out new hobbies. Listen to or read books. Take an online class or attend a webinar. Become smarter and more knowledgeable. Reach out to others and become a better person!
We have a big, fat opportunity staring us in the face. The glass isn’t half empty. It’s brimming over with exciting chances to live a fuller, more gratifying life.
