It is partly a matter of maintaining the right perspective. I’m doing a lot of genealogical research during the lockdown and always enjoy reading my great grandfather’s story. In 1899, he moved his young family from North Rhine-Westphalia 700 miles east to Danzig (now Gdansk). He spent 40 years raising the family, acquiring property, founding the only battery manufacturing business in Danzig, growing it, and becoming influential in the community.
Then WW II started three miles from their house on the Westerplatte Peninsula on Sept 1, 1939. In late 1944, the Soviets were marching westward and Germans in the East were fleeing west. My great grandparents stayed until they were evicted by the Soviet Communists and left with only the clothes on their backs. The communists appropriated the entire family fortune which was quite sizable. After a five month journey (mostly walking) they got back to the hometown they had left 46 years earlier.
My great grandfather was 80 years old when he made that trek. He lived penniless for another five years and died the year before I was born.
So, yes, COVID and the now-ridiculous government lockdown is ruining a lot of lives. Thank God it is nothing like the horrible calamities that befell so many of our ancestors.
Von Anhalt-Zerbs, Von Baden, Von Barby-Muhlingen, Von Bayern, Von Brandenburg, Von Jülich Kleves-Berg, Von Katzenelnbogen, Von Kleve, Von Leiningen-Westerburg, Von Lichtenberg-Lichtenau, Von Lippe, Von Mansfeld, Von Mecklenburg, Von Nassau-Dillenburg, Von Nassau-Wiesbaden, Von Oettingen, Von Oldenburg, Von Pommern, Von Rollingen, Von Sachsen, Von Sachsen-Meissen, Von Sachsen-Wittenberg, Von Schlesien-Glogau-Sagen, Von Schwarzburg-Blankenburg, Von Solms-Braunfels, Von Werdenberg, Von Westerburg, Von Württemberg.
My father was born in Holland in 1904. My mother was born in Canada in 1920. And the funny thing, is that the German is from my mother's side...not my father's. My Dad's family were all farmers and peasants. Up until I had my DNA done, nobody knew of any German connection. And along with 59% British, Welsh, and northwestern Europe connections, there's 2% each of Swedish, Norwegian, and Scottish in there too.