Only a few short weeks ago, our life was normal. We went to work, saw friends, visited family just like we have always done. COVID-19 came about, and everything stopped. People began to get sick, we all had to stay home, and everything is different. 

COVID-19 felt very distant until it didn't. My brother has it. Thankfully he seems to be improving, but unfortunately, that isn't the case for many. People are truly suffering, and some are even losing their lives over this disease. 

With such a terrible virus in our world right now; Is there any possible way for this to all have a positive side? Is it possible to have a positive impact on our families, the world, or society? Let's look at some ways coronavirus has had a positive impact on my family. 

We Have Slowed Down

The world we live in prioritizes speed. We all want things as fast as humanly possible. If the internet speed on our cell phones slows, we are frustrated. If we can't get Disney+ to pull up the next episode of the Mandalorian, we are peeved. 

Because our world wants us to move so fast, we seldom choose to slow down enough to focus on the truly important things. The things God has deemed as essential, one of which is our families. Here are a few ways that we have been focusing on the family.

1. Be Present

Before COVID-19, even if we did ever slow down, our minds were in other places. Inevitably there would be a work "emergency" that needed attention or someone else that we HAD to talk to at that moment. It's poison to our relationships and families to have this as our standard. We have made a conscious effort to focus on the moment. Focus on what's going on right now. On your actions, on your environment, on others around you. This takes practice but is essential to the health of our families. 

2. Disconnect 

I am going to "preach" at myself for a minute; you just listen in. Don't always be connected. I am the worst about justifying being connected digitally as being "productive" or "efficient." It's complete bologna. Let me challenge you, take your cell phone, iPad, laptop...whatever and shut it off. If you work on a computer most of the day (most of us right now), have times when you disconnect so you can focus on other things. I can promise you that when you take time to disconnect digitally, you will be healthier, happier, and I have found myself more productive when you log back on.

3. Focus on Each Other

Far too often, we are around people, but we aren't actually with them. We talk to them but are distracted. We are there physically, but our minds are on other things. We listen, but we're really thinking about ourselves and what we want to say. None of us are immune to this, but with conscious effort, you can shut off the outside world and just be present with the person you're with. This means that just a little time spent with your family and friends can go a long way. 

We Have Gained Perspective & Appreciation 

It seems to be an accepted part of 21st-century life that life demands more and more of us. Because of these demands, it seems harder and harder to stop and appreciate the good things we have: faith, friends, family, health, etc. 

Slow down and make time for clarity. You can't see where you're going if you're too busy running with your head down. We have been forced to slow down long enough to gain clarity on what is really important in our lives and to appreciate the people that make our life chaotic, unique, and wonderful.

Let me challenge you. Reflect on your intentions and observe the challenges or opportunities showing up in front of you. Think about what's working, what isn't working, and where you can focus your energy next week.

Our Health Has Improved

All of my adult life, I have struggled with sleep. It takes two rituals, three prayers, and a minor miracle each night for me to get to sleep (kidding…sort of). It's hard for my mind to stop. You might be tempted to think, "Well, Keaton, how is thinking too much a bad thing?" Well, it becomes an issue when you run on just a few hours of good sleep a night and have the schedule most working adults have. It wears on you...big time. 

One of the blessings of COVID-19 is that our health has improved. Kyla and I have been able to exercise more (running mostly), and our sleep (my sleep) has improved. 

It is an absolute shame that a crippling worldwide pandemic is what was required for us to slow down enough to gain a little sleep and focus on our health.

I pray you and your family will use this time to refocus, slow down, and appreciate all of God’s blessings, even in the midst of tough times.