The part about this pandemic that I find most interesting is how each individual person is reacting to it.

The positive get more positive, while the negative get more negative. The worriers, worry more. The anxious, get more anxious. The resourceful, get more resourceful. The kinder, get more kind. The angry, sadly, just get angrier.

The introverts are enjoying the social distancing, while the extroverts are hating it. A surprising amount of folks are truly hoarders.

The best business owners are reacting appropriately, while the worst are also following their own compass. Some folks are loving working from home, while others are hating it, or are choosing to still go into the office. I guess there’s not a one-size-fits-all, on that front.

Some companies are taking this as an opportunity to offer deals, delivery, pick up, when they usually would not. I’ve also heard stories of a daycare worker, demanding parents pay her, even if they don’t take their kids to her. Very differing ways of looking at this.

I’ve seen videos and photos of downtown Chicago, in the loop, completely deserted, which is crazy for the area. But my neighborhood, just three miles west of there, seems to be completely business as usual. People are still taking buses, there’s still plenty of cars about, people walking around.

Nothing like a tragedy to show some true colors. What kind of person are you?

Today is day five of Marc working from home. Which means, day five of us spending even more time together than we already did in the first place.

Amazingly, we were able to clean the apartment together this morning. Deep cleaning, needed to be done for quite a while. I love the feel of a freshly cleaned apartment. And all I have to do today is sit and enjoy it. Maybe do some cooking, because we have an overabundance of veggies in the fridge.

It is rush hour in Chicago, I take Sawyer out for his morning walk around the block. It’s just foggy enough to add an extra layer of eerie to the fact that there are no cars or people around.

Just a few days ago, it would be common to see one car after the other, racing down our side street, likely following their waze app on their phone, avoiding the traffic a block away on Western. Kids playing outside the school, a block over. Those “safe space” (or whatever they’re called) crossing guards on every corner, within a mile of said school. A lot of people, dressed for their day out in the world, taking their pups on one last walk, before leaving them all day.

None of this is happening out there right now. It gives off a creepy vibe, at first. But then you have to consider the fact that, very suddenly, everyone banned together (or rather, apart) to respect each other’s space.. not effect each other. That is pretty admirable.

I feel lucky to have a boss who is not a fan of employees working from home, but understands and allows it when necessary. I am happy to be surrounded by reasonable people.

Today, it’s all about my health. I definitely should work out more often… or.. at all. BUT I am lucky to be in generally healthy condition.

I am thankful to live in a neighborhood I feel comfortable walking around in. There are two parks nearby, many pedestrians about, bike lanes, sidewalks everywhere.

There’s a nearby convenient store, several corner shops, a grocery store less than a mile away, a local produce store, a really great coffee shop, a really great in-network doctor within a block. There are some pretty decent restaurants and bars, however changing they may be. Nail places, hair places, dive bars, cocktail bars, pizza places, hole-in-the-wall places, Michelin star places, many doggy daycare options.

Easy access to public transit, buses on Western or Chicago are both a block away. Pretty much anything anyone could be looking for can be found on Western or Chicago Ave. I can get to a beach, on one bus ride.

Friendly neighbors, lots of dog lovers, affordable rent, no upstairs neighbors stomping around, giant windows, a pretty good view of downtown.

Sometimes, it’s good to remind yourself that you used to want what you have now. You don’t need to always be searching for more. Sure, a nicer place in a fancier neighborhood would be cool and all, laundry in-unit is the dream, but at least we got laundry in the damn building. And ya know.. all these other great things, too.

Today I am grateful for my many moments of solitude. I can be extroverted, sometimes. But I am truly introverted, all times. The less time I get with myself, the worst off we all are!

I know a lot of my thankful posts are all about work, and that gets boring.

But I am just bursting with gratitude to be in the company of folks who are bettering themselves. Preparing for growth, with smiles on their faces. It’s more about being excited for the growth than scared of it. And that’s such a wonderfully inspiring environment to be in.

This moment in my life, also makes me appreciative for the shitty situations I’ve been in, in the past. If it weren’t for those experiences, I wouldn’t be able to cherish this time so much. I would be more scared than excited.

Today, I am thankful for time. Simply having the time to sit down and actually think about what I am truly grateful for today.

When you’re a kid, time moves so slowly. A day at school feels like an eternity. The older you get, the more time disappears, the more valuable it becomes. I’m sure there are a lot of hard working folks out there who would love to be at home, eating chips, by 3 pm everyday.

I am thankful for our ten foot high ceilings. Yes, it might be drafty. Yes, the windows are old and don’t shut properly. No, I can’t even reach the top of my windows.

But it’s nice to have such a wide open area. I feel like I can breathe. It makes this less than 1000 square feet apartment, seem a lil bit bigger than it actually is.

Today I am thankful for clear enough skies to be able to see some stars. Often in the city, there is too much light pollution to see anything up there, but I could tonight. Not a cloud in the sky.

It’s a welcome reminder that whatever my mind is fixated on does not fucking matter. It is a small, insignificant detail, within this gigantic world. It would do me good to remember this, regularly.