It turns out that pandemics provide perspective

The literal upending of our collective lives in response to COVID-19 has given us a new-found appreciation for basic things to which we used to not give even a second thought, like toilet paper, shaking hands and going to school or work.

Now, we find ourselves in one of two places – grateful to still have those things or fearful because we don’t.

Fear in the face of this crisis is clearly the prevailing emotion. The economic impact of coronavirus right now is affecting far more people than the virus itself, all in an effort to save lives. But the truth is, lives and livelihoods are being devastated anyway. What makes it worse is that we really can’t do much to turn things around until someone’s got a handle on controlling the virus.

So, in this moment of collective pause, we have a choice to make. Do we fear that over which we have no control right now, or do we appreciate that which we do? The choice can impact our resilience as individuals and as a community, as well as how we’ll emerge from it.

Gratitude is widely recognized in psychology as key to not just good emotional and physical health, but also to handling adversity and improving relationships. Harvard Medical School wrote an article in the Harvard Mental Health Letter, titled, “In Praise of Gratitude.”

The article stated: “Gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have instead of always reaching for something new in the hopes it will make them happier or thinking they can’t feel satisfied until every physical and material need is met. Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. And, although it may feel contrived at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice.”

Their recommendations include things like sending thank-you notes, thinking about and writing down things you’re thankful for, prayer and mindfulness meditation.

For me, there’s a forced simplicity of our lives at the moment that is making space for gratitude. Every morning I wake up without a fever or cough, I’m grateful. When I talk to my kids, I’m grateful. I have time to appreciate new buds on my rose bushes about to bloom and a recently cleaned closet that’s been a disaster for years.

I’m also grateful for this community I get to call home. I’m grateful for the strength of our leaders and their willingness to confront the really complex challenges we face. I’m grateful that they don’t hesitate a moment to mobilize as many resources as they can muster to help our neighbors who are really struggling right now.

I’m grateful for the fact that, according to Barna.com, Las Cruces (and El Paso as a region) is once again recognized as the most generous city in America. Regardless of income, fully 92 percent of us give to charities and nonprofits, according to the research. It shows our strength and commitment, as a community, to finding ways we can take care of one another all of the time, as well as throughout this pandemic.

In fact, the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico has taken the lead in meeting emergency financial needs at this time through two efforts:

• Together Las Cruces, a new fund to support Doña Ana county residents who have been laid off, furloughed, or have experienced a significant loss of income as a result of the state’s executive order.
• The Nonprofit Emergency Fund helps support the very organizations whose work is so critical, at the same time their own resources are in jeopardy.

If you can help, please visit their website at cfsnm.org.

I’m grateful for the collaboration and relationships all over this community that drive the change taking place here in a host of areas, including education, workforce development and building resilience in our children and families. I’m grateful to know and work with so many of you on these amazing efforts.

So perhaps this column is my thank you note to you, my community. Thank you for weathering this storm with courage and compassion. Thank you for all that you are doing now, and what we’ll still have to do when this is over.

Thank you for the privilege of working alongside you as we recover from COVID-19 together.

Tracey Bryan is president/CEO of The Bridge of Southern New Mexico. She can be reached at 575-644-6453, 575-541-7325 or TraceyBryan@thebridgeofsnm.org