Life has been turned up on its head over recent weeks, I’ve regularly found myself feeling dazed and confused at the gravity of the coronavirus pandemic and the bewildering speed of how quickly things have moved and at how much everyday life has changed.
There is so much fear and uncertainty creating ripples of angst, but my heart has warmed at the growing sense of community, from people volunteering in their hundreds of thousands to support the NHS and people setting up local support networks to help deliver essentials to the elderly and vulnerable. This is a time for coming together; for unity and understanding. This virus knows no borders, no race, no religion, no money or status…we truly are all in this together.
I saw a quote from an Italian virologist in Milan (Roberto Burioni) who spoke about social distancing: ‘It’s like being in car that is going against a wall, just press the brake and we are safe. But the pedal we must all press together…’ We are certainly all in this together and if we all ‘press that brake pedal’ together, we can each do our part to make a positive difference, even if our part is simply staying at home. As someone with multiple ‘underlying health conditions’, I am following government advice and isolating myself for the next three months. Even the term ‘isolation’ sounds desolate and grey, cold and disconnected, so I have chosen to cocoon myself instead.
During my period of cocooning, I am choosing to make the most of my time at home. Many of my interactions and appointments are now telephone and video-based, so I find myself with a great deal of time and space. Initially, I felt restless, as I fidgeted and wiggled, wondering how to fill my days. So, I took some big deep breaths and started to find my own centre once again. Just being outside in my garden, it’s quieter, and there’s a new stillness as most people retreat to their homes. The sun is shining and the birds are singing as though they have been given some respite from the daily grind of everyday life.
As the lockdown stillness intensifies around the globe, we are slowly giving the Earth a chance to breathe again. Seeing pollution levels plummet is a timely reminder for each of us as to the impact we have on Mother Earth. We are not invincible beings, we are fragile souls, inextricably entwined into the great big ecosystem of the planet, and if we don’t learn how to live in harmony once again, there is no opportunity to flourish and thrive.
Like many others, I have, at times, sensed a heightened level of anxiety emanating from the core of my being. I think this is mostly driven by how quickly things have moved, but also at the overstimulation of the media. It’s only natural to want to keep up to date, but it adds to the angst, so I’ve accepted that I have no control over this situation, other than how I choose to spend the coming weeks. I have consciously chosen to follow government/medical guidance and cocoon myself, to listen to the news far less and to spend my time in quiet reflection, sending healing thoughts outwards to wherever it may be needed. This acceptance is enabling me to breathe more deeply and to find some tranquility in my heart and soul.
Although this period of cocooning is being enforced upon us, I’m actually beginning to focus on what it can give me rather than what it’s taking away from me. It’s time to shift down a few gears, to watch the sky, to listen to the birds, to sit in my garden, to contemplate life…and to get those outstanding jobs around the house done! When do we ever get such opportunities?
It’s important not to forget that many amongst us are not able to cocoon themselves, they are on the frontline, either in the health service, emergency services, farmers, food supplies, cleaners and many other key workers. We should each take time to offer our thanks and praise to them all for their courage and strength, and to make sure we do all we can to support them, even if that’s staying at home.
Although I’ve been in retreat, I have had more time to connect with friends and those close. My conversations are leisurely without keeping one eye on the clock; the conversations are meaningful as much of the mundane chitter chatter has faded away and we’re speaking more from the heart with sincerity and open-ness.
So, it’s my choice to try to make the most of this period of cocooning, to see it as a precious gift and to start appreciating the little things, which are actually great big things, from listening to the birds singing in the garden, watching the daffodils swaying in the breeze and resting more consciously in the moment. Admittedly, there are things I miss: people watching in the café, trips into nature and being close to family and friends, but I’m also realising the importance of stillness and quiet, and how much it can bring me.
We are all in unchartered terrain, but the acts of kindness and love are the anchors that can keep us tethered and grounded. This is a time to look out for each other and to cultivate an atmosphere of love, unity and compassion. The future may feel uncertain, and life has changed beyond recognition, but this will pass. Even during times when we may feel alone, or we feel angst ridden or upset, there is always someone there to offer support or a listening ear. We are all in this together, and we will find a way through this. So, let’s take each day as it comes and to not think about what may, or may not, happen. We need to make sure we nourish and nurture ourselves and each other; mind, body and soul…
