Bonnie Bing: What the coronavirus has taught us

Well, what have we learned here?

Remember hearing that question coming from a parent, a teacher or a counselor?

Let’s take a moment to think what this coronavirus experience has taught us. I have come to several realizations, but I wanted to know what some of my friends have learned through this restrictive time.

One of the first answers from many was some version of: “I learned I never want to go through this again.” But most have been a bit more reflective.

Tom Shine says he’s learned not to take for granted the small things that we miss so much right now. For example going to the Y, talking to colleagues, having lunch with a friend, “and getting a haircut.”

Melissa Tinker said she has learned how fun it is to simply hang out with her kids. “So much of the time when you’re spending time with your kids it’s a major activity. Now we’re having real conversations.

“They don’t have anyone else to talk to or hang with so they know they only have each other and they need to get along, learn to compromise or be miserable,” she said adding with a chuckle, “I really like them.”

Melissa, whom everyone calls “Mel,” also said she has become more resourceful using whatever is in the pantry for meals and if something is broken, instead of instantly replacing it, she tries her hand at fixing it.

Sally Thompson says she’s learned to be careful what you wish for. “I used to wish my husband would come home for lunch, but now that he’s coming home every day, I’m over it,” she said.

Tom Wright, of Topeka, says he’s learned he can survive weeks without TV sports. “But so far that makes every hour like a day and every day like a month,” he said.

Colin Green is a high school student who had been lifting weights regularly until the stay-at-home rule put a stop to going to the gym. “I’ve learned when your body is used to a regular exercise it doesn’t like it when you quit.”

Sierra Scott says she caught on quickly that it was more important than ever to look for the positive side of things. “And it’s important and helps so much if the people you are around stay positive.”

She laughed and said it was a blast when she and her fiancé, Harrison Schenk, got out some old board games to play. “It was a reminder that the simple things are so fun,” she said.

Ann Garvey, who returned from a four-week camping trip just before the shelter-at-home demand, says she “unapologetically has viewed this time as a period of grace. “ She says the earth, for one, is saying thank you for less pollution caused by humans.

She has appreciated the opportunity to help others while “fulfilling my own longed-for snow day to do all the things I had dismissed in the midst of a too-busy-doing-other things life.” She’s taken the time to go back to several of her many creative hobbies, to reconnect and deepen family relationships and as many others have done, dug into multiple boxes of family photos.

Personally I’ve learned there are many, many funny people out there who have videos, photos and jokes to share that bring a smile or a laugh when we could all use one.

One thing I’ve also learned that working in the yard, planting and weeding makes my lower back hurt.

Marni Stevens, whose has done more gardening in her life than I’ll ever do, has tried to convince me to work no more than two hours at a time so my back doesn’t feel like an elephant stepped on it. Good advice, but it’s hard to quit when you’re outside in perfect weather.

Several people told me they’ve been having weird dreams and not sleeping well. I’ve noticed when I’m not sleeping, which used to be a rarity, I think of what’s going on with this virus instead of making a grocery list or writing a column or short story in my head.

One night around 2 a.m., I thought about how this pandemic has the attention of people all over the world. The world, not just our city, or state, or country, but the world. Sad that it has to be something so devastating to bring us together.

We’re fortunate to have the amazing health care workers and the many others who are doing their best to make this time more bearable. I agree with the people I talked with who said this is the perfect time to take stock of what we as individuals are made of.

Regardless of what politicians are saying, regardless of those who think this pandemic is a hoax (good grief), we have to trust those who are experts. People who have studied medicine, diseases and pandemics, are the ones trying to keep us safe.

And now for a few suggestions from me to you: Do bring a jolt of joy to someone this week. Do make someone laugh. Do an act of kindness. Do stay calm. Do email me and tell me what you have learned.

Don’t cut your own hair, or the dog’s. Don’t eat a week’s worth of groceries in two days. Don’t give up on those last few lessons of home schooling. Don’t order stuff you don’t want from Amazon just because you can get it so quickly.

But DO go outside every morning, rock back on your heels, stretch your arms to the sky, look up and yell, “Yeehaw! I’m here for another day!”

This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 7:00 AM.