Schools closed, employees let go, stores closed, the world quarantined in their homes, all things caused by the pandemic of COVID-19. What was thought to be an issue confined to China in early January of 2020, has now become a global issue with over 2,500,000 cases worldwide and almost 200,000 deaths. With the new systems and ways of life forced to develop from this situation, it has made people begin to realize the things they took for granted, big or small, that they have now had taken from them by this illness.

Students are missing school. They miss seeing their friends. They miss interacting with classmates and teachers. They could miss prom. They will miss banquets. Music students will miss concerts and contests. Athletes will miss their games and chances of championship titles. Seniors could miss graduation. Students have been robbed of their last day of the school year. 

Employees miss their jobs. They miss going into work. They miss seeing their coworkers. They miss having a specific job. They miss doing what they enjoy doing. They miss doing what they were hired to do.

People across the world miss going to the store. They miss shopping where they want to. They miss sitting in at restaurants. They miss going to church, if they did. They miss their friends. They miss their families. They miss going to the movies. They miss celebrations. They miss vacations. They miss their social freedom. They miss their security. They miss their health safety. They miss their worry-free lives. 

All the things people used to see as normal, natural things that seemed insignificant or maybe even bothersome, like going to the store, going to work, going to school, have now become things people yearn do experience again. They have become things people never knew were an absolute privilege to have. This unforeseen situation should teach everyone to not take things for granted. Though things may be strange when this passes, people need to enjoy the things that will be returned to them. Even though it used to seem irritating to hear, be grateful when schools open again, be grateful when work is available, savor everything available when the Coronavirus quarantine ends.