‘This Never-Ending Feeling of Gratitude’

A+dog+named+Penny+looks+out+of+the+window+on+a+sunny+morning+in+Flossmoor.+Penny+is+stuck+inside+of+the+house+just+like+everyone+else+during+the+COVID-19+pandemic.

Photo by Sam Gorton

A dog named Penny looks out of the window on a sunny morning in Flossmoor. Penny is stuck inside of the house just like everyone else during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Letter to Future Generations

Dear Diary:

What a time to be alive.

Chaos, confusion, and a contagious virus. All in the past five months. I recognize the difficulties your generation may face in understanding what it’s like to live in such an eventful time as ours, so perhaps I will assist you.

At the beginning of this journey, my expectations were low. I assumed it would all blow over within a few days, maybe even weeks. However, we soon realized that this wasn’t the case. Taking precautions and understanding the severity of the situation early on made for a trouble-free quarantine, or as trouble-free as it could be during a pandemic.

Luckily, my home situation was comfortable and staying in the house for several months was not an issue for me. As I hear stories from across the world on how others are dealing with this virus, I realize just how much I have to be grateful for, even in a time like this. It’s become clear to me that this never-ending feeling of gratitude can and will help you through the darkest of times.

Living through this pandemic has given me a greater appreciation for life and has taught me to value those who are closest to me. Lessons like these are passed on for generations, and living through this pandemic has provided us with stories or lessons to share with you and history books.

Hannah McGowan, Junior

Contribute Your Story

This piece was contributed by a member of the community to be a part of our Pandemic Diary, a place for writers to share snippets, memories or perspectives of their experience during the COVID pandemic.

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