COVID-19 quarantine is a time of uncertainty for everyone. For me, it is reminiscent of the Great Depression. I have always admired the people in my life from that era because they had mental toughness and humanity. The mantra of the time was: Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without!

Most of them had integrity and were generous to a fault, not materially but rather giving of themselves. Theirs was an understanding of the value of relationships. They invested in their family with simple acts of love. The members all did their part to contribute to the overall well-being of the family unit.

It was a time when multiple generations shared living spaces and everyone had their role in maintaining a lifestyle rich in love and commitment to each other. They gave what they had to one another and mostly that was time; time to help each other, talk to each other and work for each other.

These are the very things we still have to offer to our family and friends today during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the quarantine, our lives were filled with commitments and activities that appeared to distract us from each other. It made “things” somewhat more important than people.

We have an opportunity to turn back the clocks and return to a simpler time where our friends and families can once again be a priority. We can share our true selves, with each other, and enrich our lives. We can let our experience inform the lives of future generations.