Life is slowing down
all over the planet. People everywhere are being discouraged – even banned from
congregating en masse. No going to the footy, no going to movies or the gym, no
going out for dinner or out unnecessarily.
Many people are
beginning to work from home. Wouldn’t that be great ! I have no job, so I feel
like I’m always home lately. My heart goes out to those working in essential
services (medicine, health, police, couriers, banking, retail) who can’t work
from home. They have to keep going; to take care of us should we need them.
I am concerned that
many people are not taking “social distancing” seriously. Going out and about;
doing the things we all did without a thought until a few weeks ago. Not just
people in the at risk age groups, but young people too.
Remember, you might be
taking all the precautions – it doesn’t mean you are invincible. None of us are
immune. You might not have any symptoms, but you could still be infected and
give it to your grandparent or a friend from BINGO.
The other day I was
messaging my niece. Her family, spanning FIVE generations, have agreed to not
see each other for at least a month. They don’t even live too far apart from each
other in the scheme of things, but they have made this choice to protect each
other.
For me, well we share
a house so we see each other all the time, but one of us works in health –
where exposure to already immune-compromised people makes our hygiene habits
critical. But a lot of thought goes into planning a trip to the supermarket to replenish
essential supplies (if you can get them – no thanks to the idiot panic buyers
and hoarders).
Our borders are
closed; only citizens can enter the country. It is the same in many other
countries too. I can leave – but I can’t come back. Even if I did leave I would
need to go into “self isolation” for 14 days on arrival.
Aside from the
measures our governments have made all across the planet in an effort to curb
the spread of COVID-19, and the public service announcements we see online, tv
and billboards and hear on radio reminding us to wash our hands (still amazed we
need to be reminded about this)…what else can we learn ?
We are a social bunch,
so some of us will struggle with these new rules. We can still be social
though. There are online options for staying in touch with people – you can
even PHONE people. Remember when we used to do that all the time; without a
thought ?
Being mindful and
taking time to reflect have been messages promoted by “alternate” health
practitioners to help people take control and help them reclaim some calm amidst
the crazy busy lives many of us live. But mindfulness and reflection aren’t “new
fangled” things. They have been around forever. You can practice mindfulness
yourself. You don’t need to pay someone. It is all about slowing down, taking
time, being in the moment, reflecting, relaxing.
While you are working
from home, just at home or trying to keep the kids amused, take a few moments
for yourself. Listen to the birds, admire the flowers, be transfixed by butterflies dancing, watch the leaves as the breeze
tickles them. You can do other things too – go for a walk (fresh air and open
spaces are good – even now), bake; but take your time and enjoy the process –
it will taste better ! knit, craft, read a book, PLAY with your kids, read to
your kids.
Take time to write
down and record some of the things which are going on in what seems to be a
crazy situation. The world is slowing down, we all have time and we should take
advantage. It’s what I am doing – you could just write it in a notebook, a
diary, in a word document (like a digital journal) or blog. The problem with
our digital online world is that none of us are really sure how anything will
be archived, or how information might be accessed in the future. We can go to
libraries either in person or online and read old newspapers, some of us are
lucky enough to have diaries, journals and letters written by our ancestors. We
can glean information from these about how past events like this affected our
families. Spanish Flu, World War One, rationing, World War Two, industrialisation,
fashion, education, the Depression, exploration across the planet and into
space, mining disasters, shipwrecks – it’s all there, but what will we leave ?
All of my genealogy
buddies are revelling in this enforced time at home to get on top of filing,
tidying resources, checking facts have been correctly cited with source
information, RESEARCHING, contacting DNA matches (because we all have time to
reply to message now – right ?).
What’s going on in our
home ? A spot of gardening, a jigsaw or two, genealogy (duh !) extreme
cleaning, reading, baking, catching up on all those tv programmes and movies
that we haven’t been able to cram in, applying for jobs (because - never give
up), the occasional walk and a bit of just sitting, taking stock and watching
the world go by; albeit more slowly now.
What do I hope is
going to come out of this ? That we will be better people, that we will care more
for each other and our planet. Look at how quickly pollution has decreased –
even disappeared – as countries have slowed down and workplaces have closed
down; hear the birds now that that industrial noise is quietening, see the
water clearing in canals and the sea life once more visible. The virus is threatening us, but at the same
time healing our planet.
I do miss the planes though
as our world slows down. It was a bit mindful for me watching them flying
overhead returning from a journey or just beginning a new adventure. The sky is
empty. The world is getting quieter.
We can do this. Take
care of yourself, distance yourself from your loved ones and friends, cherish
life, help the planet heal and we will heal too.
STAY HOME.
STAY SAFE.
WASH YOUR HANDS
DON’T GO TO THE SHOPS EVERYDAY.
DON’T HUG or SHAKE HANDS.
PROTECT OUR ELDERLY POPULATION.
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH COMPROMISED
HEALTH.
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
