Coming together during a pandemic ironically means staying distanced and safe, at least until the vaccine is available to everyone. 

Because of this, we’ve been separated from friends and family while essential workers are smack in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. 

How can we come together even more during these unprecedented times?

The answer: Gratitude, empathy, and compassion.

Expressing that gratitude might feel limited with current restrictions but trust, there are ways to do it and we’ve got the suggestions right here for you!

How To Express Gratitude During A Pandemic

1. Pay it forward to essential workers.

Let’s rip the bandaid off this right here and right now: our essential workers are being treated unkindly during this pandemic. There was already a terrible stigma that those who bag groceries or flip burgers aren’t deserving of a livable wage or life in general, and with the pandemic, we hoped to see that stigma smashed seeing that they’re keeping the nation moving. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Any ounce of kindness you show to essential workers is immediately soaked up and can turn around someone’s day. For all you know, the cashier who rung you up was put through the wringer by a customer 10 minutes beforehand. 

You can pay it forward in kindness and you can pay it forward with a generous tip. Tips are optional, but for those living during these times, tips are more helpful than you realize.

2. Snail mail ‘Thank You’ cards.

This one is a great way to express gratitude. Sending greeting cards by mail isn’t as popular as it used to be, so it hits differently than receiving a message on Facebook or by email. It’s more intimate. 

It says I appreciate you because I took the time to write and mail this to you. 

Not only that but our nation’s Postal Service has taken a hit from the pandemic and is losing money. You mailing a card and purchasing stamps helps aid postal service workers!

3. Order delivery or takeout for your best friend or loved one.

There’s something about the gift of food, of nourishment. This is a fun idea for best friends and loved ones! If you know their favorite restaurant or food type, put in a no-contact delivery order for them as a surprise. Or, if you need to coordinate with them for pickup, that’s an option too!

NOTE: This tip is a suggested care option in the Self Care Planner. Click here to view more.

4. Simply reconnect with someone from your past online.

Do you have a teacher or mentor or even a friend or classmate from the past that contributed to your life somehow? It’s been a while since you’ve talked. Reconnect with them and share with them your appreciation and gratitude.

NOTE: This tip is a suggested care option in the Self Care Planner. Click here to view more.

5. Throw a surprise “Gratitude Shower” and coordinate with your friends to mail a gift to one person who could use a pick-me-up.

THIS is a fun and meaningful way to express gratitude. If you have someone in your life that’s having a hard time coping with the pandemic or is experiencing a dip in their mental and emotional health, keep reading. 

You can start a group chat with mutual friends and coordinate sending gifts - or a simple greeting card - to this friend or loved one. 

Great example: One of our Loveteers has a grandfather who has experienced loss of friends left and right as he gets older; meaning the amount of greeting cards he’d receive for his birthday cut down significantly. He was lonely. So our Loveteer - his granddaughter - coordinated a card shower and had everyone mail a birthday card. He received 43 greeting cards as opposed to the expected 4 or 5.

These are just 5 ways you can express your gratitude. If you have other ideas in mind, as long as they’re meaningful in gesture, go for it!

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