I am returning from a few days ‘holiday’. So real time away from the laptop, phone and TV screens for me and my partner. We are in Germany so the lockdown rules have been loosened, we can see a few more people and go out to more places. Gyms and pools are opening up and museums too. We had a beautiful day in the sun on Thursday and it really felt like a holiday as I got slightly sunburnt. The rest of our time off the weather was not so great. We went out for the day on Sunday and walked in the rain round a beautiful old town, not entering anywhere for a coffee even, staying cautious. Jobs were done, tax returns for 3 countries (yes) sorted out. I made dinner and one friend joined us and we feasted on prawns and homemade mayonnaise as if we were on the Atlantic coast somewhere. We had fun.
Now we are back to the working week and the uncertainty stretches ahead. Social distancing and the wearing of masks apply, we hesitate taking up all the activities we did before but the length of the lockdown means we are tempted and do some. Talk of another wave of infection is in the media. We have family in the UK and France who we would like to see in person. It is really unclear when we will be free to do so. We would like a real holiday away for some weeks somewhere. Though Spain, France and Italy are putting plans in place for their beaches, things don’t feel certain yet.
And I stand back from these reflections of mine – we have no financial worries, we have not been doing work that forces us to be in contact with Covid 19, we are still in our comfortable house and garden, we are together. Others are in much tougher situations.
Some nuclear families are split across continents. Some have lost family members and not been able to mourn them properly. Staff working in health care are exhausted and have experienced the unimaginable. Teachers have been managing new and difficult ways of looking after kids. Parents have been working and caring for their children at home. Many are furloughed. Some have lost their jobs and are worried about finding a new one. Others are working much longer hours to keep businesses going. Young people are thwarted from finding work after college or enjoying their college studies and are blocked at home.
So what can we do to stay on track with this unknown near future and survive the boredom of the routine imposed by the confinement? This is resilience… More of the same. Getting outside each day, and taking exercise, regardless of the weather has been so vital for us. We have had the most extraordinary display of blossoms and flowers this spring. I walk with my friend most days and we update each other on the news and about our families. She has family in 3 different countries.
Connecting with people, working, journaling, watching our diet, meditating, injecting some entertainment and fun – I am working on them all. (I invite you to read my previous posts again).
The day to day, I can usually manage. I have a personal wish to create something meaningful and lasting over time with which I am struggling at the moment. It will come with patience. The New York Times had a front page commemorating in a list those who have died from Covid 19 with a sentence about each – on a call with my friend yesterday we were talking about this – what would the sentence be that followed your name? Maybe mine will be ‘can make good mayonnaise ‘ !
I wish you a healthy and safe week.
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