Mixed emotions

4 weeks of staying home – 3 of government imposed isolation. How are you feeling?

the beginning

In the first week there seemed a sense of this being unreal – with may folk being told to stay at home rather than go to work or school. Maybe enough people didn’t take it seriously – how can this apply to me? – the virus won’t kill me: I’m young and fit. Some people seemed to greet it like an invitation to holiday. But children at home perhaps needing home schooling and partners spending more time than normal in the same space – is this a breeding ground for domestic disharmony or will we find a new strength in our relationships? Who have we chosen to spend this time with? Was it a good choice?  It’s unsettling though, and there’s a sense that this may be our reality for some time – we need to stay grounded as we find a new groove.

the middle

Second week in the reality hits – as we have to queue for shopping or find .delivery services that actually have timeslots. Media is filled with reports of those not complying as they stroll down to the beaches and parks for a picnic. But the road are getting quieter and the birds are singing louder (it seems). We’re contemplating our strategy for getting through the weeks as we watch the numbers rise – and people we actually know have deaths in their families. We’re appreciating the people who are working to keep us healthy – the ones working in the NHS and also the ones keeping the food chain moving. Celebrity gossip has no appeal – we’re welcoming time (including digital time) with those we love. We’re learning who is important in our lives – and this is good.

And Now

Third week and the numbers are still rising. More time to think. The past seems so long ago – a previous reality – a different life almost. But one day this will change again and we will emerge into a new start. It won’t be where we left off – many things will have changed. Not least of which will be our sense of self – surely everyone will have had to contemplate their own behaviours and what is important to them?

Has anyone used the time to declutter the house, do some home decorating or learn a new skill? – those ideas that many of us had at the beginning as we suddenly find ourselves with more time – or has this time been used keeping the wheels moving in your environment? – or maybe your mind turned out to be not so much in the space for learning or decluttering as you struggled to maintain some sense of normality, such as it is?

Hope and Choice

This week I’m considering the questions of hope and choice – what do we hope will be the outcomes of this situation? How can I influence the outcomes I want to see in my own life? – You have more choices than you may think: what will you choose?