Bright Spot: a good thing that occurs during a bad or difficult time.
The coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the globe is an extraordinarily strange and challenging time. As we are shuttered in our homes, collectively concerned about our health, our finances and our neighbors, we are finding there are bright spots in this fundamental shift in how we relate to others and the world. To share your bright spot please email mashenbrener@hotmail.com.
Emily Williams – Teacher at Foothills School of Arts & Sciences & Kidfort Director at Treefort Music Fest
Aaron Williams – Realtor & Investor
Brooklyn Williams – Public Health & Epidemiology major, International Development minor at BYU. Currently taking time off from school, serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Quito, Ecuador. Was emergency evacuated on March 27, 2020, and is awaiting reassignment.
Ian Williams – Senior at Boise High School
Lucas Williams – 9th grader at Foothills School of Arts & Sciences
Emily: “I’ve lived in Boise most of my life, and within the North End for most of those years. Spending more time walking around my neighborhood has brought me the opportunity to notice more about where my roots are planted, and recall all the years I spent walking and riding my bike through these same streets in the 1980s. The “stay home” mandate has given my family permission to spend time together, play games together, and finish home projects together. It’s forced us to deal with conflict and emotions as they arise, since life’s normal busyness does not interrupt. It’s given us time to notice each other, for good and for bad, to admire and to forgive.”
Aaron: “Being with the kids 24/7 is fun and good to see them all the time because at this age they are usually out with friends. Going on family walks and bike rides are great, and we have noticed new talents and interests among family members with more time to put toward personal interests. We are getting home projects done; we built a pergola, replaced four fence posts and are prepping to re-landscape the backyard and re-stain the fence after 12 years.”
Brooklyn: “It was very disappointing to be pulled from Ecuador so suddenly when I was just developing my Spanish to a point of fluency and establishing relationships. But now I have more time for neglected hobbies like cooking new recipes and playing the guitar. Since graduating from high school in 2018, life has been a constant push – college, internship, more college, mission. This is the first three weeks I’ve had in over two years to curate personal time. I get to be home and spend more time with my family than I have been able to do in years. I can focus on self-care more now that I’ve been putting off, because I have less demands pulling me away. It’s giving me the chance to focus on being healthy and take care of myself.”
Ian: “It is hugely challenging to not enjoy my senior year: no prom, no talent show performance, no yearbook signing, no graduation in May, no build-up to the end. I had just started ceramics this semester and I never got to spin a pot on the wheel. There is an unfinished pot in the ceramics room, drying out and cracking that will never be finished. There is no closure. But the grind of the school schedule has halted! I have more time to play the piano, sing and harmonize with family who are home all the time now. More time to go outside and read books and climb trees.”
Lucas: “As an introvert and “gamer” this new norm of wearing a headset and doing school on the computer is not a problem at all. Not having to do so much is a good thing.”
Jetta (Australian Shepherd) and Bucket (Yorkie): “More walks, snuggle time and people at home to throw my ball ALL DAY and NIGHT!” (dogs can talk)
