Prior to a couple weeks ago, when asked how you were doing, it’s likely your response was “Busy!” instead of “Fine. And you?” As “Busy!” ran our lives, from scheduled activities to work to social pressures to be at every such-and-such event, we all were wishing for one more hour in the day, one more day in the week, where we could just rest. Guess what? Wish granted!

There is positivity to be found amongst chaos. As Mr. Rogers said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” That message carries forward today more than ever.

Here are a few meaningful ways you can be among the helpers while staying safe and healthy in 2020.

CHECK IN ON YOUR NEIGHBOR.

By text or phone, and with Lysol at the ready. Call neighbors, especially those above age 65, and make sure they have what they need so they don’t need to venture out to stores. If you drop goods or food, make sure you wear gloves to handle or sanitize before you leave it on their porch. We can support each other without face-to-face interaction in the digital age, so let’s take advantage of that.

HELP STRUGGLING POPULATIONS.

School-aged children may be in need of meals that had previously been provided by their school. Your local crisis center is in need of supplies to get the people to whom they are providing sanctuary through these next few weeks. Homeless people need masks and sanitizer. Lucky for us, we can donate all these things online. Monetary donations are easily done online. Here are some local nonprofits that have been putting out the call for help over the last few days:

Safe Place And Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) - Still housing families fleeing domestic abuse, SPARCC needs sanitation support during Coronavirus.

All Faiths Food Bank - All Faiths Food Bank is working to fill the gap left by school meals. They are providing extra food at locations throughout Sarasota.

The Friendship Center - The Friendship Centers has launched a hotline aimed at combating feelings of isolation caused by the coronavirus in senior communities, which are all on lockdown.

WRITE LETTERS TO YOUR (or someone else’s) LOVED ONES.

Senior living facilities are perhaps the hardest hit by this “social distancing” prescription for the nation. Most are on full-scale lock-down: no one goes out, no one comes in. Take some time to remember the old art of writing letters, and let your loved ones or others who may be feeling incredibly isolated and alone know that you are thinking of them.

APPRECIATE THE SOLITUDE.

This one is the easiest. It’s rest we’ve been after and rest we’ve been given. Elongate your afternoon walk, stroll neighborhood trails you’ve passed by before, watch that show you’ve been meaning to watch, pick up an old favorite novel. We so rarely slow down enough now to reconnect with ourselves that this may be the opportunity we all have needed.

Most importantly, let’s work together to stay safe.

This post is meant to cast a light on—not make light of—a difficult situation. We as a community are working together by staying apart. The better we are at this in the short-term, the sooner we can resume activities and busy life as we knew it. So wash your hands and stay home and use this time to recharge.