Staying positive during the coronavirus global pandemic is a struggle for many. Some folks are starting to put their Christmas lights back up as a way to spread much-needed joy.

With schools now closing, people working from home, and dwindling customers in the hospitality industry, and businesses crumbling, the world is facing a total meltdown, and life is feeling pretty bleak.

The coronavirus global crisis has brought the whole planet to a complete standstill

Originating in Wuhan, mainland China a few months ago, a new strain of coronaviruses has been sweeping throughout the world at an alarming rate.

More than 255,000 people globally have already been infected with the virus, with the death toll soaring to over 10,000—in less than four months.

To avoid the spread of the contagious pandemic, many businesses globally have shut down. Schools have closed indefinitely, and restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues have shut their doors for the foreseeable future.

Major sporting events and music festivals have also been postponed, and some canceled, and people are urged to stay indoors as much as possible.

It's time for much uncertainty and panic

But amongst the struggles and despair, people are still managing to hold on to hope.

If we've got to be stuck at home, we might as well make it look pretty.

There have been many ways in which people have been raising their spirits amid the crisis.

Whether it's through donating to food banks or Italians singing in lockdown streets, our faith in humanity has been slightly restored in the past few weeks.

Spreading joy during the pandemic

And the most recent joyous move is pretty unique and heartwarming—it involves Christmas lights

Seeing a trend like this go viral is uplifting. It's a great way to encourage people to stay indoors and get creative with their holiday decorations.

As an added advantage, driving through neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights limits unnecessary contact with other people, upholding social distancing rules.

The heartwarming gesture has been praised heavily on social media, with one woman posting on Twitter:

"Today a few of my neighbors decided we needed a bit more light in this dark time and decided to turn their Christmas lights back on. I hope it brings a smile to your face as it did mine."

And people started doing the exact same thing.

Over the US, the trend has really been gathering traction. Holly Griffin, a family support co-ordinator from Cumberland, Rhode Island, says her son suggested they put their Christmas lights back on.

Posting the photo, she wrote on the caption:

"My son looked out the window and asked if we could put the lights on so he would have something to look at. We thought about it and said, 'why not'? It's a good way to spread some cheer."

Holly says she thinks the family should help spread joy and hope, one light at a time.

She adds:

"I think it's important to look outside of ourselves at the moment. If you just sit and think about everything and watch the news, it can put us in a bad place."

"It's important to do whatever we can."

"Hopefully, it gives people a smile because as they drive to work or wherever they need to go."

"It shows that we support them, the health workers, and it's a socially distant way to support them."