Practicing Gratitude as a way of Combating COVID-19

When the world goes to chaos, how do you find joy?

Many of Ivy Tech’s faculty, staff, and students are finding wonderful pinpricks of joy by practicing gratitude. By placing their focus on what they are thankful for, they take a bit of the negative, nervous energy that is so common these days and transform it into contentment, gratefulness, and even peacefulness.

Monica Peterson was only three months into her new position as Director of Philanthropy for the Ivy Tech Foundation when COVID-19 disrupted her routine. Despite the upheaval of normalcy, Peterson chose to focus on the simple joys in life instead of giving in to despair.

“Although I miss working on-site with my very talented colleagues, I do enjoy hearing the birds sing as I begin my work in the morning in my home office,” she said. “They are reminding me that you can still sing in the midst of a challenging situation.”

Summer Gooding, an admissions recruiter, practices gratitude as a way of combating these trying times as well.

“My husband, Robert, and I are both working from home during the COVID-19 restrictions,” said Summer. “He is a current Ivy Tech student who is glad he can take courses online right now, instead of putting his education goals on hold! We are thankful for Ivy Tech!”

For Lisa Stout, who works at the Ivy Tech Foundation as the advancement specialist, finds simple joy in her home office space.

“Lots of natural light (well for Indiana anyway!) on our back porch. It’s great!”

Slowing down to appreciate the subtle beauty of life and celebrating being near to our loved ones is a powerful way to fight the negative emotions these unprecedented times might arouse in us.

Take pride in one another, in your College that is preforming admirably despite the uproar, and in yourself for persevering and finding joy even among the trials of life.

As Tina Lamb, student success and retention advisor, put it, “I am proud and grateful for the ways we’ve rolled with the COVID-19 punches and continue to meet the needs of our students- and each other – during unprecedented worldwide chaos.”