LESSONS LEARNT FROM LOCKDOWN:
17/07/2020
We are currently living through a never-seen-before global pandemic that has affected every single living creature on the planet. Escalating like wildfire, COVID-19 has left people from every corner of the earth feeling confused, frightened & powerless. Each country has gone about things differently, though each remains directly connected with each other via the same devastating event. And months later, we still aren’t out of the woods…
*Before I get into things, I do wish to note that I am fully aware how extremely fortunate I am. Please don’t feel that I am in any way minimising the severity this global crisis. I have not lost a loved one to this disaster. I have not lost my business, or my home, & I have not experienced the terrifying ordeal of testing positive. For this I am enormously grateful. Be assured that I write the following whilst also keeping in mind those less fortunate than me, those who are now grieving family members, who have been trapped at home with an abusive partner, or have had crucial medical procedures indefinitely postponed... I am hopeful that my words will offer you some comfort, whatever your circumstances during this time.*
With the above in mind, are there any non-environmental positives that can be found amongst this catastrophe? What life lessons have I learnt from being confined at home for 17 weeks as a ‘vulnerable’ person?
 * LESSON (1) ---> HAVE FAITH IN YOUR ADAPTATION SKILLS!:
I started my lockdown experience feeling frustrated, an emotion I managed via completing daily exercise. This coping strategy however was rudely brought to a standstill by two ear infections & a fractured toe!  So I started reading & writing more instead, which in turn led to these blogs! I also had to complete therapy sessions via the telephone rather than face-to-face, & so I bought myself a headset & re-organised the study. I then came up with the idea of offering text therapy, to assist those struggling with privacy whilst stuck indoors, & this was a great success! Via having the time to research mental health related topics & appreciating the calming effects of nature more than ever, I am now offering ‘walk and talks’, a means of therapy I had barely even heard of prior to lockdown.
My point? I adapted. I was unable to carry on living the way I normally did, & so without even realising, my brain adapted to suit my new reality. Take a moment to think about how, since lockdown, you too have adapted the way you work, parent, socialise or keep fit? Drunken zoom calls with friends? Bringing out your never-before-used gym equipment from the garage? New recipes? Home-schooling? Them meetings that ‘could have been an email’ actually becoming an email!? All these are perfect examples of adaptation. This skill does not only keep us safe, it also creates a new healthier mindset, which in turn can transform into inspiration, courage, & an in-depth appreciation of what really matters to us. Aren’t our minds incredible?!?
 * LESSON (2) ---> IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE…:
Cliché, I know! But it’s true, would you not agree?
It was weeks before I was able to leave the house to take the dogs on a walk, & when I eventually did…wow! It was amazing! The fresh air, the trees, the smells, there was even a vibrant rainbow in the sky above me, leading the way. It was beautiful! I returned home feeling grateful & really grounded.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love walking (you have no choice in the matter when you are a dog owner)! But I must admit that mindfulness is not always a priority when I am out & about. It’s so easy to get caught up with random thoughts & planning ahead & worrying about nonsense, that we often lose sight of what is right in front of us (literally & metaphorically speaking)! I’m sure a lot of you are guilty of this too!
Reflecting back on my time in lockdown, it’s the simple things that remain highlighted in my mind – laughing hysterically watching a comedy or bickering over board-game rules. I am not proud to admit that these are things I now feel I have taken for granted in the past. But I can say with confidence that I have learnt now to be more thankful for these moments as a result. I would definitely recommend that you make an effort to be more present in day-to-day tasks, rather than wait anxiously for the holiday, the night-out, the ‘big day’. There is nothing wrong with having something to look forward to! But as lockdown has highlighted…it’s the small things in life that matter the most!
 * LESSON (3) ---> YOU CAN SURVIVE ANYTHING THAT IS THROWN YOUR WAY!:
This pandemic has changed life as we knew it. I wish I could sit here & reassure you that everything will get back to normal really soon. I unfortunately cannot do that. I am just as taken aback & unsure about what the future holds, as you.
I can’t however help but think about the quote that says ‘So far your track record of surviving your worst days in life is 100%!’ How true is that?
So no, I can’t reassure you that this will soon become nothing but a distant memory. But I can reassure you that you will be fine. Bad days will pass & better ones will come. It won’t all be smooth sailing moving forward, but rest assured we will find our way. We always do.
Your mood dropping, your anxiety escalating, your tears, your outbursts etc., do not make you any less resilient or capable. You deserve to be happy & healthy & confident. So stay strong, be kind to yourself & be truly proud of how well you are coping!
Because you, my friend, are surviving a pandemic! And if that isn’t something to be proud of, I don’t know what is!!!

















