When Life Gives You Lemons Make Lemonade

I got thinking about the old adage "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" while reading an odd little book that reminded me of the Lemony Snickets series.  Lois Lowry's The Willoughbys is quirky, satirical and ends hilariously.   

Basically, the story goes a little something like this: the parents of the 4 Willoughby children are horrible, the family in general is miserable, and everyone is longing for something that they're missing.  BUT, in the end (spoiler alert) they all end up happy (although not all necessarily alive) because they make the most of things going terribly wrong and take advantage of their misfortunes.

I can't say that it's always easy to see the good in horrible things.  But sometimes, even when times are the worst, you get little glimpses of the good here and there.  Even now, as we continue on with social distancing and home isolation there is a silver lining.  

There are many silver linings to the mess that Covid-19 has created:

1.  I have a renewed perspective on what's important to me; on what I can live with and without while still maintaining my happiness.  

2.  Being home all the time has given me the opportunity to spend more time with my children.  Instead of desperately trying to reconnect with them in the precious few hours we would typically have after a full day of being apart, I am a part of their daily life.  I don't have to catch up and question them to know  what they've been up to and how they are doing.

3.  I've seen my kids grow and develop in ways that I didn't expect.  They have developed so many life skills in caring for the home and contributing to the family.  Social distancing has given my children the opportunity to build their life skills in ways that were otherwise not possible.

4.  I've rediscovered the joy of comfy clothes all day.  I now realize that it's a throwback to my university days of attending tutorial in my PJ's and I'm not sure how I'm ever going to go back to regular clothing!  Is there such as thing as professional stretchy pants?!

5.  Slowing down and getting to those tasks that I otherwise find hard to get to.  These things are on my "one day" list and I'm slowing but surely crossing them off and boy does that ever feel good!

6. Approaching life in the slow lane has its perks; what's wrong with sleeping in, managing my time more freely, relaxing at the end of the day and just settling down with a hot tea and a good old novel?  This is a welcome change to the good old "go, go, go!" of everyday life.



What silver linings have you found recently?  What transformations are you experiencing?  In what ways are you turning these difficult times it into a opportunity for success?

We all have the chance to make a little Covid-19 lemonade if only we take the time to.  And if you do, it sure does make this sour situation a little sweeter.