Focusing on the small moments that enrich our lives during the pandemic.

“Moments of being, moments that somehow count for more, and contain everything, illuminating the more customary moments that lie on either side.”

– Virginia Woolf

I came across this quote recently. I thought, “wow, she really nailed it!” At a time like this especially, living through a pandemic, daily life full of so many constraints to keep ourselves and others safe.

Since the beginning of this outbreak, my dad has had serious concerns that COVID-19 will divide us as a society. With all the physical distancing, mask wearing, and various restrictions for visiting loved ones, running a business, and travelling – it’s a valid concern. It has many of us worried. We’ve all had to learn to move through our lives in a manner that is counterintuitive to the human spirit. None of us have ever had to live like this before.

We’ve all had to learn to move through our lives in a manner that is counterintuitive to the human spirit.

So when I came across this insightful sentence by the author Virginia Woolf, it brought it home to me that one of the main ways we can better cope right now is to value and take to heart, keeping those moments front of mind that help us have a quality of life despite COVID-19 and all the restrictions.

We all intuitively know those moments in our lives that hold a deeper meaning, that ultimately help us to carry on as we move through life. Sometimes it’s something quite significant that takes place in our lives. But quite often, it is some small, fleeting moment that grazes our consciousness that no one else would even take note of. It is specific to who we are, how we move through this world, and it makes an impression on us due to our unique makeup. It may be something we observe or experience while alone; other times, it is a fleeting moment shared between a few or many.

We all intuitively know those moments in our lives that hold a deeper meaning, that ultimately help us to carry on as we move through life.

The older I get, the more I realize that’s it’s not all about the big “flash-bang” kind of events in life that sustain us. Those can be few and far between sometimes. As you age, you learn to savour those seemingly insignificant moments that happen along since you realize that they are not necessarily replicable.

The same goes for what some might consider small gestures shared between friends, family members, acquaintances, or even strangers. These gestures are simple things, such as a nod of the head, a friendly acknowledgement, or even a smile hidden under a mask. Our eyes light up when we smile, and everyone’s brains respond accordingly. This type of small gesture will be one of the keys to keeping our society from becoming too fragmented.

This type of small gesture will be one of the keys to keeping our society from becoming too fragmented.

And keeping front of mind those ethereal moments that are unique to our own consciousness will help get us through this pandemic, imparting to us a sense of fulfillment until we can once again be together with the ones we love, know, or want to get to know.