There's some things that I've realized over the past two weeks. These past two weeks are the first weeks in the pandemic that really had a impact on our families lives. I've never been restricted by movement or what I can and can't buy. The only restrictions to movement or purchasing were based on if I could afford it. That all changed these past two weeks. I've experienced my own employer telling me that I wasn't allowed to see customers until June. The government (provincially and federally) has limited where we are allowed to spend time. They've shut schools, parks, gyms, entertainment places and restaurants. When I go shopping for food I now see empty shelves and limits on what I can buy. There's plexiglass barriers in front of the cashiers and lines on the floor keeping people apart.
These are truly unprecedented times for every single person on earth. I never once thought this could come Canada or my home town of Stony Plain. Something like this was what happened in the movies or far away places like China. But here we are, face to face with a pandemic that has killed tens of thousands and will devestate the global economy like we never seen before. Now before I get to far down this rabbit hole, here's the positives.
1. More time with my family. More time to spend with my wife and kids. We're spending it talking with each other at the kitchen table over a meal. We're playing Domino's and board games and laughing with each other. We are taking the time to discuss this pandemic and find ways to deal with it as a family. We're stronger pulling together than on our own.
2. Food waste is going way down. I'm cooking every single meal at home and I'm watching my fridge very carefully. I'm planning meals based on what I need to cook first before it spoiles. I was never this mindful before. It's resulted in eating better more balanced meals and my fast food intake is WAY DOWN.
3. Cutting unecessary spending. It's amazing how much money was being wasted. Lots of $15, $20 amounts add up to a big number at the end of the month. This pandemic has helped me realize these areas of waste.
4. Debt load. My family doesn't have a lot of debt and that's by choice. We don't have a lot of fancy toys or a summer cottage but at times like these I've realized that being unencumbered is a very positive thing.
5. Employment. So far I'm still employed and I'm extremely grateful for it. We've recently agreed to take a tempory 20% pay cut for the next few months. It's tough to accept a pay cut but it's way better than the unemployment line.
As this pandemic rages on, I'm choosing to focus on the positive.
