Since the coronavirus pandemic has put the world on pause, many people are left with life-altering changes to their everyday life. 

The majority of society has been asked to work and learn from home to combat the spread of COVID-19. While these trying times pose many difficult scenarios for all types of people, there are still some positives that can be taken away from this experience. 

For starters, with life as we knew it put on hold, the Earth has had a chance to breath. 

The roads are not as packed full with work commuters adding to air pollution and some places have seen the direct effects of this. For example, as we can see in this tweet, the canals in Venice are now crystal clear.

Here's an unexpected side effect of the pandemic – the water's flowing through the canals of Venice is clear for the first time in forever. The fish are visible, the swans returned. pic.twitter.com/2egMGhJs7f

— Kaveri 🇮🇳 (@ikaveri) March 16, 2020

This is something that natives say is a result of self-isolation. Not as many people are out and about using the waterways for travel. Some Twitter users also noted that swans have returned to areas in the canals since human travel has been significantly reduced. 

But the pandemic’s impact goes beyond pollution. Something that I have personally noticed is that more people seem to be in touch with nature and the environment again. 

Since the state of Illinois announced the stay-at-home order and the closure of all non-essential businesses, the range of activities that people can participate in has been restricted. 

I have seen more people out and about, going for walks, runs, playing outside with their dogs, skateboarding, biking now more than ever before. 

It’s refreshing to see how we as a society are reverting back to simpler times and making that connection with nature again. 

It may just be me and all the time that I have spent inside the last few days, but the air feels fresher and cleaner when I step outside. 

Although it is eerie and the uncertainty of the future is daunting, I saw a few videos on the internet that really made me think about how we as a society abuse and overuse the environment. 

For reference, here’s a video of the empty streets of Chicago that would typically be flooded with people and vehicles. 

It’s like that old saying, “stop and smell the roses.” 

The coronavirus pandemic has allowed us to take time out of our busy schedules and everyday life to appreciate and enjoy the beautiful world around us.