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

Good!

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.

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 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.

The silver lining will be a vaccine-

Current pluses: No overwhelmed hospitals-

Yet-

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.

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.

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?

Wouldn’t say

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

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?

The prospect of a few weeks at home sounds rather comforting and time to be in the garden. Downside for me at the moment and it is driving me quietly crazy, is the laugh it off attitude of others. I am really worried. I should not be made to be embarrassed by saying so.

Actually, survival for many has everything to do with healthcare capacity at this time.

Quiet hospital car parks? Jolly good! Just think about why they might be quiet.

Shops not crowded? Excellent! Although perhaps not so great for the staff whose hours and income are being cut.

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

Survival in life is not just about accessing healthcare: yes, there are times in life when we need that but mostly our survival is about the way we choose to look at things and the choices we make

That's how you survive

No, you survive by being able to access healthcare that is operating within capacity.

It looks lovely - I’ll look out for that Astonish

GrannyLaine
but there are always positives to be found even when things look grim
Absolutely. That's how you survive.

Sorry posted to soon! Astonish steel and shine.

May7 - thank you ?

SirChenjin, The stainless steel is cleaned with method general purpose then I use steel shine and sparkle ??

sandelf thank you for starting such an interesting thread. I think it does no harm to occasionally be forced to give pause and think about what is important in the world. Yes, life looks different to us all at the moment and most of us are frightened about what might happen in the days /weeks / months to come. But there are always positives to be found even when things look grim.

Completely off topic but what do you use on your stainless steel Missfoodlove - that’s a very impressive shine!

We are semi isolating, no gym, supermarket, restaurants.
We decided that if everyone that could limited all unnecessary contact then we may delay the virus.

Dog walking, cleaning and gardening is our occupation now!

We doubt we will have the holiday we booked next month and I am losing a lot of money through my work being affected and of course we are concerned for all our loved ones.

The silver lining for me is a cooker so clean I’m reluctant to use it ever again.

GabriellaG54, are you back or are you a different Gabriella?

When I said should we go shopping I meant was it wise to go to the crowded shops.
And I am nearly out of washing up liquid, and only bought one.

The only thing in short supply was paracetamol which GP recommended I take for my knee pain, so I could be hobbling around.