Spreading Positivity
I’m going to level with you – I didn’t want to write. I didn’t want to write a blog post. I barely wanted to get dressed today. But here we are because I want to be able to share positivity with you! In the midst of everything, we need some positivity and the ability to take our minds off the current situation. So, what news either shows some positive (less bad?) effects of COVID-19, or what other good things have happened recently that has nothing to do with it whatsoever? Curious? I hope so. Read on for answers.
Just a caveat – I know that not all of these stories are unequivocally positive, but this week I’m not going to get into the politics or debates around it because we all need some good news!
- Others Worlds: Animal Crossing New Horizons launched, and has soared to the top of the UK physical games sales chart, beating the immensely popular Doom franchise release Doom Eternal. For anyone not in the know, Animal Crossing allows you to create your own island/campsite/village from scratch with adorable animal visitors. You can grow fruit, catch fish and bugs, and design your own clothes. The online aspect of this new game is also bringing people together even though we may be physically separate.
- Get on your bike!: Cycling is being protected and encouraged in some cities under lockdown as a safe and efficient way to travel. New York, Dublin, and London have all put measures in place to encourage essential workers to cycle. Admittedly, there is some confusion over whether cycling recreationally is allowed in some cities, but cycling has many positives. It allows people to travel further under lockdown whilst avoiding public transport, free to use once you’ve actually got a bike and also tackles the other great challenge of our age: climate change.
- Print your own home: The very first US 3D printed houses have been built by the not for profit New Story. The organisation has already built these houses across Mexico, providing homes for people who were otherwise living in lean-tos. The other upside is that they’re relatively cheap, last as long as conventional masonry, and create minimal construction waste. They’re also kinda pretty!
- Take the time to learn: What are we all doing with the time we have on our hands? It turns out a lot of us are learning! Online learning has seen a massive increase in usage, as has politics and television programmes. Music streaming has dipped, maybe because shops have closed and fewer people are commuting. However, radio listeners seem to have increased, maybe because people are seeking interaction and human voices beyond those they are stuck isolating with!
- Smashing the gender norms: In an attempt to curb the virus’ spread, Malaysia has decided to only allow heads of the household to leave the house to go shopping. Consequently, many men are now in charge of the food shop, often for the first time. Faced with a bewildering choice of vegetables, spices, and menstrual pads, and often armed with a list from their wives they have to navigate the trials of grocery shopping. As the BBC shows, this isn’t as easy as it seems!
- Books galore!: Courtesy of one of my awesome friends at HQ Stories, #ShowUsYourShelves has been trending on Twitter this week, enabling people to admire each other’s personal libraries from the comfort of their own. What better way for book lovers to bring joy to each other?
Hopefully, some of these articles have bought a bit of a smile to your face, or have helped bring a little bit of perspective. Yes, things are hard, but there are still things that bring joy. Hopefully, the next article will see us return to something close to normal service, but until then, stay safe and see you all soon.
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