My father died a few months into the pandemic (I don't know if he got Covid, since it was still so new and he was already in poor health) and I lost my grandmother a few months before him (old age). I got Covid in November of 2019, long before the vaccines. It 100% sucked. At one point I asked my girlfriend to check on me during the night to make sure I hadn't stopped breathing. I probably should have gone to a hospital, but heh! who can afford that?!?!
Coming out of that, I feel like it's given me a fresh perspective on life. We recently moved to a new town and I've had to find a new job since my old job would have been too far of a commute away. I find myself prioritizing jobs with fewer working days and jobs with hours that permit more time to enjoy life. As of now, I took an overnight position at a group home working Thursday 9pm to 10am until Sunday. Basically only working 3 days with 4 days off.
The pandemic has taught me that there are thousands of ways to get money, but you'll never be able to get time spent back. Cliché, but you absolutely only live once. I'd rather spend my time enjoying and valuing life than working 9-5, Monday through Friday with only the weekend to spend on myself and others. Money and rat race be damned.