There’s A “Bright Side” To This Pandemic – Seriously!

In case you’re living under a rock, the whole world, including our country, has been taken over by COVID-19, better known as coronavirus. This virus came crashing down, in what felt like the blink of an eye, and it has altered how we live, how we think, and how we interact with our loved ones. The way we grocery shop has changed. The way we greet neighbors has changed. The way we celebrate holidays, the way we run our businesses, and the way we practice law have all changed.

It has been drastic for some, but the impact is being felt by all. Some are living in constant panic, while others believe it to be an overreaction. Some of our lives have been turned upside down by this new way of living, while others are angered that they are living in restriction. No matter how you feel, or what you believe to be right, one thing is certain: we can all choose to look on the bright side of this pandemic.

We are being forced to slow down. What’s the bright side? You finally have time to breathe. Life is full of chaos and stress, even without a pandemic. Many of us live our whole lives in a stressed state of mind, which leads to physical illness and overall lack of enjoyment of life. Pre-pandemic, if you wanted to slow down, you might have been criticized for being lazy. Now is an opportunity, without any judgment, to be slow, be present, be grateful, and breathe.

We are being forced to change the way we work. What’s the bright side? We are making significant modern-day changes to an old-time profession. Most attorneys do not work from home. Most attorneys do not videoconference their clients. Most attorneys are not cloud-based. In a world where traveling the county and printing more paper than you can carry is on most of our job descriptions, these over-due changes may be the start of something new, and efficient, for our profession even after the pandemic has passed.

We are being forced to spend time with ourselves. What’s the bright side? You finally have the time to think about what actually makes you happy, what doesn’t make you happy, and to adjust your life accordingly. Before the pandemic, we took many things for granted. We made commitments we did not want to make, we spent time with people we did not want to spend time with, and many of us (especially if you are an attorney) put ourselves at the bottom of our priority list. Now is the time to make the change. Make self-care a priority. Make yourself a priority.

We are spending more time with our families. We are going outside for exercise instead of the gym. We are putting less pollution in the air. We are focusing more on our health. We are learning new things. We are reading more books. Some of us are undoubtedly living better lives.

This does not mean we are living at the expense of others. Those that have lost their lives due to this virus, and any virus or disease for that matter, are loved, respected, and remembered always. And what better way to honor those that have lost their lives than to appreciate and implement the knowledge, growth and positive changes that came along with the loss?

This is still a pandemic. There is still a great concern about what is happening in our world. And there is still the choice to be positive. There is always a bright side. And you can choose to ignore it if you want. But imagine how you can transform yourself, your happiness, and your way of life during these unprecedented times.

Hanna Amar

Hanna Amar is a partner at Frank Amar Matura Both Gary Frank and Hanna Amar are strong litigators and compassionate counselors. Gary Frank is a Family Law Attorney with over 30 years of experience as a litigator and mediator. He has also acted in the capacity of a Judge Pro Tempore in the Maricopa County Superior Court and served on the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention Task Force. Hanna Amar is a highly-skilled attorney with a passion for Family Law and children’s issues. She has extensive courtroom experience and is also a certified mediator. Hanna is the President of the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Maricopa County Bar Association. Our firm handles Family Law cases in the areas of divorce, custody (now called “Legal Decision-Making and Parenting Time), relocation (move-away), division of property, spousal and child support, modification actions, enforcement actions, grandparent and non-parent rights, and all other matters pertaining to families and children. If you are in need of a consultation, call us today at 602-922-9989; or you can contact us by email through our website at www.famlawaz.com. We look forward to hearing from you.