The wisdom limned in the biblical book of Ecclesiastes – “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven” – is common enough to be known outside of religious circles. Through the thousands of years that mankind has been engaged in agriculture, we understand that there is a time when we plant seeds, a time to harvest, and even a time when the ground is resting, fallow.

Nobody I know put the precept of a time for every purpose into practice more than my mother. She was a science teacher and was deeply dedicated to the job. During the school year she would often follow a full day of classes by offering after-school help, then grade homework, tests and lab reports in the evenings. Yet she was also an outdoor person at heart who delighted in summer breaks when she could work in the yard, cultivating her own wonderland of florae. On rainy days when we were stuck indoors she made good use of her time, bustling around the house and getting chores done. All the while she’d cast glances out the window, waiting for her chance to resume playing in the dirt. If just one fraction of the gloom lifted, she would take notice of it and utter a favorite and oft-used phrase: “Looks like it’s brightening up out there.” This habit said a lot about her. She was the type of person perpetually waiting for things to get better so that she could celebrate that circumstance and share it with others.

While I haven’t yet achieved my mother’s level of optimism or productivity I keep after it, even now. The midst of a pandemic might seem like a counterintuitive time to look on the bright side. We’re isolating ourselves from others, donning masks and gloves to go to the market, wondering about the availability of basic supplies like toilet paper and holding our collective breath to see just how bad the repercussions of COVID-19 will be. There is a lot to endure. Yet focusing time and energy on the negative aspects of our current situation doesn’t help. So why not put this seemingly fallow time to use? In a world that’s been turned upside down, couldn’t we also turn on its head the notion that seasons of growth and stillness are separate? We might feel limited right now, but it could also be viewed as a time of opportunity.

For my part, I’m trying to balance some of the adversity of this time with positive changes. Working from home has been a challenge, complete with mastering new technology to tackle tasks remotely while we try to create a virtual library to tide people over. Yet it has also imparted new insight about workflow processes, and encouraged me to explore online resources and learning opportunities that I hope will increase the knowledge I have to offer patrons. With the closure of nonessential businesses in March I realized how much time I wasted browsing, but not buying, in stores. Instead of taking that bad habit online, I’m using the time to chip away at projects on my to-do list. During this imposed renaissance of home-cooked meals, and in spite of the extra work and dishes, I’m reminded how much I like cooking and baking. It has been like encountering an old friend and having such fun you’re not sure why you fell out of touch. On the topic of reconnecting, I’m meeting weekly for a video chat with a group of college friends scattered from LA to the UK; I’ve also spent hours on the phone with loved ones. Daily walks help keep my spirits up and my weight down. I don’t know that these habits will survive our return to normality, but I hope so. They’re serving me well.

While we are stuck at home, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with binge-watching a few worthy shows. I’ve dabbled in a bit of that, myself. Yet there’s only so much TV I can watch. I also understand that a lot of people are pressed for time, working from home while parenting kids out of school, and are more likely to be looking for a nap than a self-improvement project. They might be better served by the short but sweet task of practicing gratitude. Why not take a minute to notice the things, however small, that make you happy – and then be grateful for them? I am no longer surprised to find that every day I’m thankful for something. In a time of huge uncertainty, it’s funny how tiny joys have taken on a magnified importance for me. I try to relish those moments I feel positive; they help offset the inevitable dismay brought on by the news. Much of my recent happiness is related to the weather, partly because of its impact on my daily walks. I’m grateful for a bright sunny day when I can walk the quiet streets around my house listening to the cheerful chatter of birds, and for feeling not so alone when I exchange waves and greetings with fellow walkers even as we cross the street away from each other to comply with distancing. If the day is dreary (and many of them have been) I cast frequent glances out the window watching the sky for signs of improvement, for the slightest lifting of gloom so that I, too, can observe, “It looks like it’s brightening up out there.”

Those interested in virtual resources for personal growth or entertainment will be delighted to hear that the library is launching a new suite of digital content including Acorn (British Film & TV), Learn it Live and The Great Courses. Among many others, The Great Courses features subjects such as baking, cooking, yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, birding, and even dog training. Visit the library website and check them out!

Kirstie David is the Literacy/Outreach Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, Massachusetts. Look for her article in the April 23, 2020 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.