Everyone, including myself, has been struggling emotionally with physical distancing during this seemingly never-ending COVID-19 pandemic. Our wellness routines have been interrupted by closures of gyms and recreational facilities. Our emotional wellbeing is waning as we continue to be cut off from our friends and loved ones and deprived of daily human connection that we often take for granted. I consider myself extremely lucky to still be hard at work, but I miss the face-to-face interactions with my clients, which are now invariably done through phone calls and emails. I could go on and on about the inconvenience of physical distancing and the mental toll it has had on my life, let alone the hardship it has brought down on our society overall.

However, as we find ourselves with extra time alone with our thoughts, ruminating over worries and fears outside of our control does not serve us. So I’ve decided to reverse course and redirect my focus toward the things for which I’m grateful. I’ll start with the big considerations: I have a job that I love and which gives me purpose; I am blessed with a wonderful family and great friends; my basic daily needs are being met; and I have a strong faith and uplifting church community. These are the constants in my life where I can find gratitude, and in many respects, physical distancing has made me even more thankful for them.

But we can also find gratitude in the precious moments that each day has to offer, ones we may normally take for granted, and doing so brings bits of joy into this unsettling time. For example, since the pandemic started, I have noticed far more people spending time outdoors, and Columbia has been blessed with particularly beautiful spring weather to enjoy. I feel gratitude for the courageous men and women working to make sure society is safe and our needs are met—everyone from our healthcare workers to our warehouse workers, our public servants and cleaning professionals, our farmers and grocers, our delivery drivers and postal workers. I’m thankful to live in a time where, despite the limitations of physical distancing, we are able to easily maintain social connections and see one another with technology like FaceTime and Zoom. The list is endless.

I can honestly say I do not know anyone who is not having a difficult time coping and adapting to the changes we’ve faced over the past six weeks. But practicing gratitude, at least for me, has kept my spirits up and my thoughts hopeful. I would encourage you to take a time out to do the same—try writing down three things you’re grateful for in the morning when you wake up and before you go to bed at night, or each time you wash your hands, spend those 20 seconds reflecting on something that brings you joy. You’ll find that you walk away with a fuller heart and a better outlook as we endure this crisis together.