There is no doubt these are trying times for many, if not all of us. For some, it means different work schedules or workspaces entirely. For others, it means not working at all. And for a few, it means battling head-on the very thing that has turned our world upside down: The coronavirus.

As such, we can all use a little reminder here and there there is still beauty, there is still wonder, and there is still hope in our lives. I had one such moment this evening. I was all set to wrap up my Sunday evening with a meal when I got the urge to go for a run. Working out has been a primary part of my daily routine, and with gyms closed, for the time being, it’s one of many ways my life (and that of many others) has been thrown a bit off-kilter.

I had planned to take a day of rest, but after starting my run, I felt a needed jolt of invigoration. The sun began to set and as I made my way up one last hill, there was a tree, set against a fading mid-March sky. It was beautiful, wondrous, and hopeful. 

In a few weeks, its branches won’t be barren; they will be brimming with leaves as Spring blooms in New York. It’s a reminder of what we can look forward to, but also a representation that even in its current form, it’s something to behold.

While we make our way through these uncertain circumstances amid an arduous effort to defeat a pandemic, hopefully, we can all identify aspects of our lives that still make it beautiful, wonderful, and hopeful.