Look, I think we've all established that lockdowns are no walk in the park — and I'm sure we're all going a little stir-crazy at this point.
Well, in an effort to get us looking on the bright side, Reddit user u/623-252-2424 posted this thread asking Australians to share the most positive things they've experienced while in lockdown.
Here are our favourite responses:
1. This wholesome act of kindness that'll bring a tear to your eye.
"The daughter of a friend of mine had started chemotherapy just before the first lockdown. They were pretty much completely shut-in as she is immunity compromised and they couldn't risk any of them getting a regular lurgy — let alone super-lurgies.
Their local IGA owner stayed open after hours just so they can get their grocery shopping done with the store completely to themselves.
P.S. She's in remission now and doing well."
—u/evmcl
2. This inspirational tale that'll inspire you to stop ordering takeout.
"During the 2020 lockdown in Sydney, I started to eat better. I took the time to actually cook — which I love to do but never had time for, and started to go on 5km walks every day. I ended up losing about 12 kilos in a couple of months, which brought me down to my target weight. It was a really big deal for me, as I have a heart issue which prevents me from doing strenuous exercise, so keeping in shape always has been a delicate balancing act."
—u/JoeSchmeau
3. This heartwarming response that needs to be turned into a Nicholas Sparks novel.
"Being forced to work from home for weeks and months on end has made me realise just how much I will enjoy retirement with my wife. Retirement now has this golden halo around it that I never thought was possible....I get to spend the rest of my life with her."
4. This life lesson that we should take with us beyond lockdown.
"Slowing down — the culture of ‘busy’ seems to have disappeared from my radar."
5. This family's opportunity to be closer.
"Spending way more time with my young children. Before COVID, I'd only see them for an hour a day as I'd leave before they were awake and I got home an hour before their bedtime. My company has now implemented 50% WFH indefinitely. I love waking up with my kids, having breakfast, enjoying lunch and late afternoon with them. Sometimes we all have a cheeky snooze during my lunch break!"
7. This bittersweet goodbye.
"I’ve spent most of the last two years working from home and in/out of lockdown. Two weeks ago my 14-year-old German Shepherd passed away. Despite the scary state of things with COVID, I am really happy that we got to spend nearly every day together in his last years. It was the very least I could do for him."
—u/phyrexia8
8. This little miracle.
"I fell pregnant after a decade of being told I was infertile. She's three months old now 🥰."
9. This wakeup call.
"Lockdown forced my mental health into such a bad spot that I started experiencing fairly strong psychotic symptoms, which got me to finally go to the doctor and seek treatment. Now I have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms. Life is much better now that I'm on three different psych meds. I do regret letting things get that bad before talking to a healthcare professional, though."
—u/borp11
10. This appreciation for the simple things.
"For the first time in nine years, I haven’t woken up with a sense of dread and anxiety over all the things I need to get done, then gone to sleep with 1000 things going through my head that I need to do tomorrow. Today I sat on a bench in my yard for ages looking at the bees in the flowers and didn't feel a sense of guilt that I wasn't being productive. It was really nice."
—u/ras1304
11. This heartwarming tale of cyber friendship.
"I met my best friend here on Reddit. Although I don't say it out loud because most people are having a pretty shit time of it, I'm actually secretly grateful for this whole situation or I never would've met her."
—u/kokokat666
12. This social butterfly, finally free of their cocoon.
"I’ve been talking with friends a lot more — ironically, organising games with friends from university mostly — but also meeting new people online and playing games with them. Plus, with uni classes, the randomised breakout rooms that most subjects run make me interact with new people, when normally I'd probably just sit with the same people each week."
—u/Osariik
13. This "make the most of what you've got" attitude.
"I've really embraced how much fun you can have with things you already keep in your home. My partner and I have themed weekends with drinks, dress-ups and different cuisines every weekend."
—u/yepyepyep222
14. This music lover's new collection.
"I got back into vinyl! Doubled my collection in 18 months. I've been into vinyl since the early '90s and went from 600 to 1400 today. I was able to rekindle my love for the format and discovered tonnes of great music!"
15. This tale of adulting that most of us know too well.
"I’ve saved a lot of money. I’ve also been forced kicking and screaming to finally learn to cook."
—u/alstom_888m
16. This mother's second chance at having her baby at home.
"My son moved to another state for grad school about two years ago, but moved back for 11 months because of COVID. It was nice to live with him one last time — he’s in his mid 20s and unlikely to live at home ever again."
—u/MMS-OR
17. These new parents and their lockdown bub.
"I had a baby in October — I was pregnant during the bad lockdowns in Melbourne. My partner couldn’t come in for ultrasounds or appointments and I never got involved in a mother's group. But my partner is working from home now and has flexible hours, so he works at night and hangs out with our daughter and I during the day. I think it’s really special she gets both of us during such a critical time in her development and I really do think it makes a big difference."
—u/Shimmerstorm
18. And finally, this journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
"I hate my commute — it's over an hour each way and now that I don't have to go through it, I'm much happier and my family has noticed a big change in my demeanour. I go for more walks and cooking dinner is not something I dread at the end of the day. I also put the cash that I'd usually spend on one day of commuting towards faster internet for the month and set up a system to invest the rest. Plus, I've discovered that I'm not an introvert, but that I like being alone."
Do you have any wholesome lockdown stories? Let us know in the comments and you may be featured in a future BuzzFeed post or video.
Note: Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
