There are so many topics, angles and opinions when it comes to recent events and changes that have occurred in the last month. Global pandemic and quarantine affect everyone differently.

Mandated isolation can really serve as valuable, forced time for self-reflection and discovering how well you know yourself and the people in your life. You’re unapologetically shown the good, the bad and the ugly. Here are some things I’ve learned about myself and my family so far:

1. I knew I was pretty introverted, but I didn’t know just how much. After four weeks of working from home and leaving the house only twice to get groceries, I can honestly say I’m good. In fact, I’ve enjoyed it to a point that’s made me question if it’s normal or if I should talk to a professional once this is all over. I seem to have no disappointment about canceled plans and haven’t really “missed” anyone (except my grandnieces and grandnephew).

I’ve convinced myself this is because I was probably too overscheduled in the first place, and modern technology gives us no reason to miss anyone with all the social media forums and communication tools at our fingertips. I honestly believe if a life-changing event of epic proportion such as COVID-19 had to happen, this is the best era it could occur in.

At the same time, I realize many of my extroverted family, friends and co-workers may be having a hard time right now. To them I have this to say: I love you; this isn’t permanent; even if we can’t see each other, I’m just a phone call or message away when you need me; but for now—sorry, not sorry!

2. My saintly husband has a high tolerance level. And I don’t mean for only things like pain, drinking or people. He has a great ability to make the best out of less-than-ideal situations. He usually sees the sunny side of things and has an innate need to make sure everyone else is okay. I’ve always known this about him. It makes him very easy to love. I don’t think I knew how real this part of him was until all this, though.

Staying home and not having plans is not something he’s used to or enjoys very much. But I can honestly say not once in the last four weeks I’ve seen this get to him. He’s kept an amazingly bright demeanor that has yet to waiver, and he’s shouldered the load of my anxiety. The stress of current circumstances hasn’t caused him to lose his temper or become annoyed at all.

I’ve learned that my husband doesn’t just act as the type of person he thinks he should be, shaping the man he is; this IS the man he is. And I really like him.

3. Talking so nicely about my husband is going to contradict this next item, and I’m kind of glad about that. I think I might have a murderous side—or maybe all the extra time with my family has gotten to me a little more than I thought.I had a dream that seemingly combined my interest in cooking with my newly-realized homicidal tendencies, I found a recipe for homemade arsenic and tried to poison poor Poochy (aka Butterbean).

I didn’t think we’ve been spending much more time together. Yes, I’m working from home, but he’s still going to his office to work. We normally do most things together in the evenings and on the weekends. I haven’t felt annoyed or resentful towards anyone in the house. At this point I don’t know if I’m trying to convince you or myself that this dream was just a subconscious manifestation of something else—maybe feeling stressed about keeping my family safe from the virus or not making enough me-time. Seriously, come on— I’m not capable of murder, right? At any rate, I think taking a walk by myself in the evenings sounds like a nice, healthy idea.

4. If “a tree” breaks its ankle and falls in the forest, but there’s no one there to hear it (screaming for 10 minutes), does it make a sound? Yes. Yes, it does. In this case the “tree” was me, and the “no one” was my sound asleep 17-year old son. Luckily, I think my ankle is only badly sprained, but I’m not going to an ER full of contagious covidiots to find out at this time. However, I learned a few lessons from this incident others may find useful.

If you have a new baby at home, don’t keep the radio or TV on to teach them to sleep through sound; this may come back to bite you later. Limit the time your kids wear earbuds or headphones, and monitor the volume; it obviously can be used as an excuse for damaging their hearing when you find yourself lying helplessly on the ground, hollering for their help. Don’t sit with your leg under you, or move it if starts falling asleep; if it does fall asleep, don’t try walking to wake it. Encourage your kids to participate in powerlifting or other strength-building activities; you picked them up and carried them around for years, and you may need them to return the favor one day. Lastly, never let a good guilt trip go to waste.

5. I’m blessed. (I’m sometimes cliché, too, obviously.) Times like this prove how much you really have to be grateful for, though. Poochy, my two oldest sons and I still have paying jobs with benefits. We still have the means to provide for our necessities comfortably. We’re healthy and have access to medical care if we do get sick. Not to brag, but we even have toilet paper and Lysol! We have everything we need, especially each other.

However, two friends of ours have been laid off, and others own businesses that are suffering. My sister is a nurse at our family clinic, and because they are limiting office visits now, even her hours got cut.

If anything good comes from this unprecedented, uncertain time and from this mandatory slow down, I hope it’s that we all have a few moments to take stock and prioritize, count our blessings, and feel a new-found appreciation like never before. Share what you can spare with others, be empathetic, show compassion, pray for everyone, look for good, and give thanks!