It’s too easy these days to get bogged down with all the bad news running across our television and computer screens. It can be overwhelming trying to keep up with everything going on not only in our country, but the world.

It is important now, more than ever, to find and focus on the good things going on and to take time to do something good for yourself.

Some of the dancers at the Moravian College Dance Company were recently treated to a special surprise - they got to see photos of their new dance studio.

“I love all this good news for once,” one of the dancers said.

Her reaction really made me think about how important it is to find a silver lining and hold onto the happy thought, now more than ever.

According to a May 6, 2020, article titled “10 Small Ways to Find Joy While Social Distancing” by Victoria Stokes, “Small moments of joy mean more during times of struggle.”

She discusses how many of the things we find joy in are not possible right now with social-distancing guidelines, gathering restrictions and stay-at-home recommendations. These small losses pile on top of the bigger problems the world is experiencing and can make a person feel helpless and even more upset.

“There’s a culture of fear and uncertainty out there, which lends itself to feelings of anxiety and depression,” Stokes said. “With nothing to keep our spirits up, it’s all too easy to get down.”

To combat these feelings, we must look for the good in situations and surround ourselves with little joys.

To share a personal struggle, I’ve been working extra hours over two jobs. This means working 50-60 hours a week, seven days a week for a few months. I also haven’t been able to visit my family or meet up with any friends for fear of getting anyone sick since one of my jobs is working with the public and seeing dozens of strangers a day.

It had really been weighing pretty heavily on me until I realized I needed to shift my perspective to combat the depression I was falling into.

Some of the things that bring me joy are helping others, crocheting and reading. I am currently working on making a baby blanket for a good friend of mine who is expecting her first child. I also started rereading some of my old favorite books to awaken the joy I felt when I first experienced them.

Stokes lists a few activities she did to help bring her joy. These include baking, watching new television shows and movies, doing something to brighten your space - such as putting out flowers - getting up and moving - such as dancing or yoga - getting rest and relaxation by pampering yourself, reading a book, taking a hot bath, getting dressed up, being creative with art or writing and taking time to turn off electronics and enjoy the silence.

These are just a few ways to interrupt your normal routine of working and watching the news, especially if you are now working from home like so many of us and don’t even have a commute to take your mind off things.

Stokes said finding these little “pockets of joy” helped her to actually look forward to her day.

“I didn’t feel as scared or as threatened by what was going on in the outside world, and if it ever did start to feel like too much, I simply retreated to one of my happy places and started to feel better again,” she said. “It didn’t make all my troubles go away, but it did give me some respite.”

The important thing is to find and hold onto your silver lining and remember to turn away from the news once in a while. There’s a good deal of negativity in the world right now, but we don’t need to invite all of that into our lives.

“We don’t get to choose our circumstances in life, but we can choose how we react to them,” Stokes said. “I choose joy.”

I’ve spent so much of the past few months sad, angry, frustrated and exhausted. I’m shifting my focus and finding my own pockets of joy.

I invite you all to do the same.

Samantha Anderson

editorial assistant

Whitehall-Coplay Press

Northampton Press

Catasauqua Press