A mask landed in my garden the same day I found out about COVID-19. Like a light switch, our reality was flipped, the world has drastically changed in the last few months as we’ve known it. We can never prepare for something to spread so quickly, so violently and so discreetly.

The theme of our lives has hardened into feelings of isolation and panic, but most of all, a foreboding sense of the future. Little did I know, the mask I uncovered that day would symbolize an era of quarantined life.

Right off the bat, the word “quarantine” does not spark any ounce of joy. If it does, I worry for your sanity. With the will to live our lives freely, it is likely you have found yourself drowning in anxiety. Losing creativity and motivation turns life into monotonous, never-ending days that blend right into the next. Our family members feel so close yet distant. Our neighbors are now extraterrestrial lifeforms from another universe. Alone has never felt more alone; how can a community find the strength to stay together?

The most important thing to remember during this tragic time is to be open-minded when perceiving others. There are many who struggle within their homes and on their own. Being understanding and gracious can make someone feel more safe and valid, something we often take for granted.

In order to provide strength for your community, you must first find strength in yourself. Be kind to your body and mind. Now does not have to be the time to write the next bestselling novel, workout or capitalize off of the virus. Washing your hands would be nice, though. We are all experiencing this disaster together, not alone. Let’s first bond over that. It seems dark and negative, but sometimes tragedy is what unites us most. It is the foundation supporting the pillars of our growth.

The next most important thing is to remain grateful. A multitude of people are being laid off, facing eviction, homelessness or are stuck in domestic abuse situations. These individuals will be those who need the most help, and contributing to these causes will build an even stronger sense of community.

Volunteer for Meals on Wheels America to deliver hot meals to those in need. Food, money, and blood banks are in great need of donations. Buy gift cards from your local restaurants. Ask essential workers and those with compromised immune systems if they need any supplies. Taking action is crucial to making a difference, especially when lives depend on it.

As we find ourselves resting and helping, it seems the world has taken one slow breath together. We are all in a process of regrowth as a community and our natural world is reflecting these virtues. The air pollution has reduced in China and other areas of the world. Perhaps it is now that governments and companies are realizing the impacts of climate change are drastically real. Is it imperative to move forward as economies restart to analyze what we truly value most — strength in sustainability, or life in a culture of commodities?

I urge you to ponder these questions of morality, a task I’m sure is popular during a global health crisis that eases the mind completely. To restart, it is upon us to rewire our ways of life. Whether it is volunteering, donating or leaving baked goods on your extraterrestrial neighbor’s doorstep, you are part of a new routine focused on restoring compassion that I believe has been lost in our modern world.

We will rebuild and strengthen our community, one step and one donation at a time. The mask once a burden to my garden is now at rest, and delicately woven within the blossoming sprouts that once all started as seeds. What seeds will you plant?