Reflect on Your Pandemic Story: 5 Years Later

Five years ago, our world changed overnight.

No matter where you were or what your experience looked like, one thing is certain: COVID shaped us all.

All over the world, we masked up, stayed inside, and adjusted to a new way of living, filled with uncertainty, distance, and some unexpectedly beautiful moments of connection.

Remember when we:

🧻 Rationed toilet paper like it was gold,
🛒 Wiped down groceries with suspicion,
🍞 Picked up strange new hobbies (sourdough baking, anyone?),
🍳 Banged pots and pans to celebrate our brave frontline workers,
💻 Somehow convinced ourselves that Zoom happy hours were actually fun.

Many of us lost people we loved, changed jobs, or reevaluated what really matters.

Some of those memories feel like a distant dream; others remain as vivid as yesterday.

🌍 Why This Matters Now

If you're anything like me, the past few years have pulled you back into the whirlwind of daily life— to-do lists, responsibilities, and the constant motion of busyness.

Rarely do we stop long enough to realize how far we’ve come.

Anniversaries like this one offer us a powerful moment to look back—not just to remember, but to actively explore how those experiences have shaped who we are today.

This story work helps us:

  • Celebrate our resilience

  • Honor the lessons we carry

  • Notice how our experiences continue to shape how we live, work, and connect today

Here’s an example from my own life.

One story that sticks with me is my first pandemic grocery run. What started as a quick trip for ingredients turned into a cart full of seven cheeses and two boxes of wine. The next day, I cooked over Zoom with friends and family across the world.

At the time, it felt light and silly—but in reflection, it was so much more. That simple story reminded me how powerful connection can be in hard moments. It helped me celebrate my resilience, honor the joy and care we found despite fear, and recognize how much those relationships still shape who I am today.

✍️ How to Use This Worksheet

There’s no one “right” way to use this guide—follow the format that feels meaningful to you:

  • Journaling: Set a timer for 10–15 minutes, pick a prompt, and free-write. Let the memories flow.

  • Conversation: Grab a friend, share stories over coffee or a walk, and take turns reflecting aloud.

  • Memory-jogging: Look through old photos, emails, journals, or even social media posts from 2020.

Some of the biggest stories are hiding in the smallest details.

That’s why I created a free Story Spark worksheet just for you—a guided, thoughtful way to pause and reflect on that wild time.

Because pausing to reflect on the stories that have shaped us isn’t just an act of remembering—it’s a powerful way to honor our growth, make meaning from our experiences, and choose how we want to move forward with intention.

This 5-prompt worksheet will help you:

  • ✅ Revisit the silly, sacred, and surprising moments from the early pandemic days

  • ✅ Reflect on what you let go of—and what you want to carry forward

  • ✅ Notice the personal growth you may not have realized happened

  • ✅ Start reconnecting to your voice, your purpose, and your story

  • ✅ Deepen your reflections by sharing them in conversation with yourself and community

Coming Soon: Story Circles

Story work like this is powerful on your own—but it can be even more transformative in community.

I’m considering hosting a few Story Circles (online and in person in the Bay Area) where we can share our reflections, connect with others, and hold space for these very human stories.

Think: cozy, intentional, safe spaces to speak, listen, and feel heard.

If that sounds like something you’d love to be part of, add your name to the waitlist by clicking the button below. If there is enough interest, I will make it happen! 

💌 My Invitation to You

Story work like this isn’t only about remembering the past—it’s a way to explore our experiences with curiosity and decide, with care and intention, how they’ll guide us into what’s next.

As you move through these Story Sparks, be kind to yourself. Some reflections may stir up strong emotions. That’s okay. If something feels heavy, take a break, breathe, and return when you're ready.

You have so many stories inside you—stories of resilience, change, loss, and growth. And you never know who might need to hear them.

Whether you write them down, share them aloud, or simply reflect on them privately, these stories help you see how far you've come in the five years since our world shut down.

Because our stories are more than memories; they are the lens through which we understand our past, live our present, and create our future.

Let’s take this moment to look back—so we can move forward with intention.

I hope this worksheet will be a meaningful starting point for you.