Just stop
For a moment
And notice
 
Notice
Your response to the virus
Your response to the people around you
Your response to the government
Your response to the news
Your response to your thoughts
 
Notice
What are you doing
Who are you blaming
How are you helping
What are your fears
What’s reality
 
Notice
Your energy level
What you do to change
Whether you let yourself be pulled down
If you pull others down
 
Notice
The change you can be
When you stop and try to be
When you hear the negative
And ask it to politely stop
And invite in the positive
 
Notice
How the world can pull together
The amazing people
Doing what they can
Be one of them
However you can
For the sake of others
As well as yourself.
 
Thanks

My honest emotions while the virus gets worse...

​I have since writing this morning done the above other than drink wine - but that will happen later!!

Last night was the lowest I’ve felt since this virus started and I can not be the only one.
 
I want to keep up to date with what is happening in the world and I look at the numbers of cases and deaths worldwide; probably more than is good for me.  Last night when I went to bed I checked – and the jump in cases took my breath away and tears to my eyes.  I cried for the first time and I don’t think it will be the last. I had a moment a teary moment a few days ago, watching the coffins in Lombardy and hearing how many are dying and that they can’t cope.
 
It’s not a happy world right now, but people are coming together – Italy and Spain started with their singing and clapping and now the UK has followed and it is amazing.  Let’s hope more and more people join in and post things to keep us all going and smile a while.
 
In my (naïve) political eyes many of the Western governments didn’t act quick enough to keep people inside to slow it down – and I mean keep inside and not an hour a day exercise. 
 
It’s not easy;  our lack of freedom, inability to move our bodies, not being able to see people other than those we live with, see people if you live alone – mental health as well as physical health are pushed to a limit.  If you do go out (my mum is the only one going out the house) there is a sense of paranoia about bringing something back to the home.   Add into that financial fears and what will happen to the world economically and it is not a pretty picture.  If you stop and think of the rest of the world; Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, South America and places I don’t even know – how hard will they suffer.
 
We all know more people will die – not only from the virus if indeed we can monitor them all, but also from domestic violence, fights and suicides and no one knows how life will be in 3 months.  It is a scary time in so many ways.
 
I am trying to stay positive and have things to occupy me and I make the effort to move frequently – we at least have some space to move – but my hips are feeling it, I can feel them tight when I get up and if I sit too long my back complains.  What is it like for someone 20 years older than me??...
 
There is always light at the end of the tunnel and we will come through this, albeit a bit battered but we will.  How to keep going until then?... 
 
When I hit my lows I stop and really have to consider that I have it lucky, it doesn’t mean I am not going to be pissed off but I have it easy.
 
Then I stop and think of all those on the frontline who put themselves at risk….
Doctors, nurses, carers, helpers,supermarket staff, delivery people, bin men, anyone working in the shops that are essential, factory workers, farmers,  funeral parlor workers, the police.
 
My tears might not stop, but it puts my current life in perspective.
 
 
I feel useless at times, what can I do to help? 
 
Stay inside, keep positive, keep real, be honest, keep healthy so that I can be of use in the new future, post things to bring smiles, be in touch with people, be my silly self and be my vulnerable self …
 
We are all in this together to varying degrees and we will all deal with it differently.  Watch the news but don’t believe everything you hear (especially from Trump)…
 
Please:
 
Look after each other.
Look after strangers.
Stay inside unless you really need to go out.
Move regularly in some way or other.
Think of things to be grateful for.
 
Think of others….
 
 
 
 
 
 
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