The silver lining... Plusses from the 'panic'

SirChenjin

It’s very easy to be positive as it means you don’t have to face reality

Quite a sweeping statement wouldn't you say? Why would you think I don't have to face reality?

No I would say and why do you think I meant you?

Wouldn’t say

The OP was just trying to lift spirits. There are enough threads on Gransnet to express everyone's views. It was placed in the forum CHAT and not on AIBU. Can we not just keep this one as a light hearted thread? Arent we after all known for our Ironic sense of humour?

I assumed you meant me because I made the original comment about finding positives when life looks grim. And it isn't easy. A darn sight easier stomping around like Eeyore always reaching for worst case scenario.

I am happy to hear about silver linings amidst the doom and gloom.
In Lidl tonight, at the till queue, we were discussing the awful weather as well as the virus and comparing our choices of wine! It was noticeably friendlier than usual.

Like Lucca, I am very sad to think our DS and his family in NZ may not come this Summer after all.

I have been unaware of hoarding though I was told that Sainsbury's had empty shelves.

The silver lining will be a vaccine-

Current pluses: No overwhelmed hospitals-

Yet-

You assumed incorrectly.

What I meant was that it’s easier to choose to think positive thoughts about quiet shops and hospital car parks and so on because the alternative is to face up to the reality of what those things actually mean. Fingers in ears/la la la/every cloud and all that!

Being pragmatic in this situation isn’t about stomping about like Eeyore - it’s about recognising that this is a very serious situation and some of these posts are incredibly glib imo.

Silver linings that's what OP asked for:
Children learning to wash hands properly
People using tissues and binning them instead of sneezing into your face
Neighbours actually speaking to each other
People maintaining a sense of humour through difficult times ahead
Maybe just maybe communities pulling together
I'm not minimizing the horrible nature of this disease but I refuse to sit with my head in my hands thinking of all the bad things that might happen. In the words of Lorraine Kelly whats the point of that she actually said point that

You go right ahead and think about friendly everyone is being and how nice it is that children are washing their hands - meanwhile thousands are dying, health services are under enormous pressure with difficult decisions to be made about who lives and dies, the economy faces a bleak time, education is being disrupted, workers are facing having their income slashed, businesses will go under - and so on and on. It’s not a case of what might happen, it’s what will happen.

Yes, let’s just look for those silver linings and congratulate ourselves on how positive we’re being.

Anyway, I’m obviously missing the point of this rather odd thread so I shall bow out now.

Good!

Eglantine I did laugh at your post upthread about the rabbit! Yes, GN is definitely going that way alright.

This thread is all about thinking of silver linings as May7 has just expressed and given some great examples in her post.
?
It has got both strangers in the street talking to each other, and a neighbour rang me this evening to ask if I needed anything.

Oh there you are lemon - and with a good! too. I’m so pleased you got that in, I know you like to post things like that.

Phew!

I just dislike negative and disruptive posts SirC ones which go on and on
Like the duracell bunny....

How ironic.

And to you too

Covid-N-N-N-N-N-19:-

Has done more to save the planet in 2 months, than XtinctionRebellion&Greta combined have in - forever.

Has done more for sick pay rights/in work benefits than any party /EU in decades.

Has brought sloppy hygiene sharply into focus.

Yes, I do believe that every cloud has a silver lining even if it's not immediately evident and even if not for all.

It's an ill-wind that blows nobody any good...

Some of my family now cannot visit but others are coming to me because their holiday is cancelled. I am under instruction not to prepare for them coming, they will set up, shop, cook for themselves and me, and go for walks. They have offered to help with some decorating too. A completely unexpected compensation for the others being locked down.
Everyone is friendlier in the shops, I have have more phone calls checking up on me and just communicating ?.
Although I am worried, I am also enjoying the slowdown, quieter buses and turning inwards for a while. A sense of community spirit has increased and that is definitely a positive. If I get to the bottom of my freezer for the first time ever I will be amazed. I might also be amazed at what I find and what age it is ?. I think we all have to do our best to keep calm and carry on.

OH just said to ( jokingly) no one has knocked on our door to see how we are
I replied no, and none of our daughters has phoned to see how we are ( jokingly) ah but look on the bright side. They all think we are far too healthy and capable and we'll be the ones helping them ?

Lovely to have you back GabriellaG54 and most unexpected. You’ve been missed lady!

Regards this thread I think any slight positives are good to share. There is a lot of anxiety around at present and sadness regarding missed family gatherings. We have very little control over this virus so it’s good to enjoy life’s pleasures where and while we can in my opinion.

How can it be a bad thing to try and keep positive and cheerful when we are facing this terrible virus? Of course we are all taking it seriously - we would be mad not to - but what good does it do being negative and miserable? I think all those who are going down the "Let's be miserable and criticise those who are trying to keep other's spirits up" route need to have a word with themselves!