I hope this post finds you all well. I’m following the guidelines on social distancing, working from home and only going out for essentials – food and my prescription medication.
In a lot of ways, I feel that extended sick leave last year has prepared me to stay at home. Back then, home was my safe space when the outside world felt too overwhelming. Nothing could have prepared me for the threat of the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic when going out really is a threat to life.
I am so grateful that I have a small garden. To be able to get fresh air, watch the birds and the bees, enjoy the sun – that after month upon month of rain – is finally starting to shine!! I have flowers on my rosemary, have enjoyed a few daffodils and tulips and my dianthus is starting to bud and flower too. I am very lucky.
On my kitchen window sill, I’m growing coriander. It’s my absolute favourite herb so to see it growing from seed is wonderful. It brings some much needed normality and hope to these troubled times.
I have been comfort eating a lot recently, which combined with my blood pressure medication has caused my weight to shoot up. Today, I have made the decision to nourish myself with healthy foods. I will still eat chocolate but not in the same quantities that I have been. I’m not giving myself a hard time or beating myself up over it. This year has been hard. I turned to food. Now I’m going to reign myself in a bit.
It’s Easter weekend, I’d love to be able to visit my parents and spend time with them. They were due to go on holiday this weekend, that is not happening now. They are also both self isolating due to their age. I know that I am incredibly lucky to still have my parents. I hate thinking of them as old or vulnerable but Coronavirus has brought that reality to the forefront of my mind. I am so glad that they are healthy, eat well and exercise regularly. I’m looking forward to being able to visit them when life returns to some kind of normal and I can safely travel to visit them.
I’m finding the change of part of my home to my new workspace quite strange. I know I’m lucky to be able to work from home and still have a job for the moment. I work for a not for profit organisation and fundraising is crucial for funding our work. I was never sure I would be disciplined enough to work from home, I am. I have struggled with motivation the past few days but I have been productive.
I usually work very much as part of a team. We’re close and before this happened would think nothing of giving one another a hug or squeezing round the table at lunch time so we can all sit together. Now there’s a skeleton staff in the office and we have no idea when we’ll be back together again. I miss how connected and social we were. I’m looking forward to the time when we’ll be back together again.
It doesn’t feel like it’s Easter. I’m not really sure what it does feel like. It’s week 4 of “lockdown.” I don’t mind if it keeps us safe and well. Stay safe. We’re doing this so we can enjoy the freedoms that I know I have certainly taken for granted. I hope I don’t take them for granted again!
Happy Easter everyone.
