It’s quite clear that 2020 has been a total car crash of a year. And it’s not over by any stretch of the imagination. Unless the new vaccine is the fastest acting one ever invented, 2021 is in all likelihood going to be equally difficult. However, this wouldn’t be misohappy if we didn’t look on the bright side of every situation. So. During a global pandemic that is showing no sign of ending, what makes me so happy?

1. Breathing

If you don’t suffer from respiratory allergies or hay fever then you probably can’t relate to this. I have suffered from chronic rhinitis and sinusitis my whole life and it is made worse during the summer months by plants fornicating everywhere. I’m also allergic to dust mite so household chores leave me with a blocked nose, itchy eyes and a hacking cough.

So imagine my surprise when presented with a face mask for the first time in my life back in April when they were first starting to become trendy and I discovered that not only did they form a barrier against the COVID, they also filter out pollen and dust. Genius. Ironically, covering my face has allowed me to breathe easy for the first time this summer and it feels great.

2. Actual laws against people touching me

“There were always laws against this” I hear you cry… technically yes of course. In practice not so much. Now people are expected to not only refrain from making physical contact without consent, they also have to stay at least a metre away. Frankly, now that I know you have to be 2 metres away from someone to ensure you don’t inhale any of their bodily fluids, I’m gonna take a hard pass on hand shaking, hugging and air-kissing from now on. And as for the perverts on London Underground: YOU’RE OUT OF LUCK SUCKERS!

3. Zoom Drinks

I bloody love Zoom Drinks. After years of only going out occasionally when we can get a babysitter, it’s bloody brilliant to still be able to catch up with friends from the comfort of my own home. No late night Ubers, no kebab shop midnight snack, just a stumble upstairs to bed. Brilliant.

Of course I won’t want to permanently replace real life interaction with my friends and colleagues BUT it is nice that this way of keeping in touch has been normalised. It’s something I hope we keep when things return to “normal”.

4. Staycations

I love to travel. Not one of my 36 years has gone by without stepping on a plane. My last trip abroad was in early March just a few short weeks before lockdown. I went to Singapore to meet my newborn niece. Travelling is the best. I love going to the airport, taking a long flight, and arriving in a far flung destination to lap up the sights, sounds and smells.

So imagine my surprise when faced with the prospect of no air travel for the foreseeable future, I have my half terms and school holidays filled with bookings for Airbnb properties, days out and London hotels. In fact now that there are 6 of us in our household, not only can we not hang out with anyone else right now, flights for all of us always cost a fortune. That £2,000 usually spent on flights goes a long way on campsites, restaurants and theme parks.

5. Working from home

Nothing will fully replace the interactions and collaboration achieved in the office. The office still has an important role to play in my work life and I am looking forward to returning one day. However, after years of thinking my role couldn’t be done remotely, I now know there is some flexibility to be had. My 90 minute commute is gone. I don’t have to meet clients and colleagues face to face to form strong relationships with them. It has been both enlightening and rewarding to work through this challenging time and I think I as an individual and my team as a whole, have grown stronger because of it.

There’s also the fact I see much more of my family now. It’s great. We have new kittens. They like to hide under my laptop stand and stare at me whilst I’m working. We (I say we but it’s entirely my husband who has the green fingers) have time to garden. We have met our neighbours. We have even had a distanced street party or two. All good things that have come from spending more time at home. Our home. That we bought because we love it. I do like spending time here.