Finding Tiny Bits of Joy in the Pandemic

We are all going through our own versions of grief during COVID—denial, anger, arguing with the virus, depression, and acceptance—and we are likely at different stages. I think I jumped from “I can’t believe this” to the depression stage and have been there too long. Now, I’m just trying to stay even and avoid any rollercoaster.

Calmness

Source: Dmitry Bayer/Unsplash

I recently read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, which argues for making life changes in tiny pieces, one small habit at a time. I’ve created one tiny habit that helps me live in the virus world and gives me a chance to feel joy every day. Perhaps each of us has found our own tiny habits that help, and I’d love to hear about more. But here, I’ll offer mine.

Each day I put a different wallpaper on my phone, but not just any wallpaper. My husband has our dog as his cover. I know lots of folks with their kids or grandchildren as their wallpaper. Mine is a photo of some beautiful piece of cloth or textile. I started by using photos of my own scarves and shawls (I have many, many). After I visited India, I fell in love with fabrics from that part of the world. When I found that the Google Arts and Culture site has scads of works of art from around the world from hundreds of museums, including lots of textiles, I knew I’d hit paydirt.

So every day or so, I change up my phone’s opening picture to some calming piece of textile, usually a piece of linen or silk. I love the way the textile piece folds, seems almost to wave or move, and the detail of the yarn or silk or cotton threads or lace.

Slow down

Source: Photo by N. K. Napier

The colors range from bright fuchsia to calming mauve to even more restful beige. Sometimes it’s an unusual closure—a button or brass bell—that sits atop a piece of fabric. I often wonder who made such art and what their lives are like. Whatever the object, it’s always calming, detailed and gives me pause.

When I open my phone, my surprise and joy at the wallpaper just makes me smile. I stop and enjoy it, even if it’s just a matter of seconds, before I move into email or reading the news.

Just five seconds, perhaps five times a day. It makes all the difference.