It might seem a bizarre thing to say, but I’ve been expressing gratitude for lockdown. Not for the reasons behind it and the undeniable pain and suffering this pandemic has caused, but for the lockdown itself.
Seven weeks ago, I wasn’t living my best life — but I didn’t know it yet. I had made the jump to freelance work late last year, was happily married with two cute fluffy cats, and enjoyed travelling to fantastic places a few times a year.
Note: All of the above is still true bar the travelling part.
But, I wasn’t really living in the moment. I wasn’t appreciating all the day-to-day stuff. I was constantly looking forward (which is better than looking back) but I also wasn’t following my passion projects or making the most of this thing we call life.
“The only time you ever have in which to learn anything or see anything or feel anything, or express any feeling or emotion, or respond to an event, or grow, or heal, is this moment, because this is the only moment any of us ever gets. You’re only here now; you’re only alive in this moment.”
~ Jon Kabat-Zinn
This period has been, and continues to be, a difficult time for all of us in many different ways, but even in our darkest moments, there is light.
1. Time has slowed down
All of a sudden, we’ve stopped rushing. Rushing to work, rushing to catch the train, rushing to get everything done. We can breathe. Really, truly, breathe. Time is something that is so precious to us all, yet a lot of us take it for granted. As Robin Sharma said, “time slips away like grains of sand never to return again.”
2. Kindness is all around us
The community has come together and it’s beautiful. I received a letter last week with details of a support group for anybody feeling lonely or needing help with their groceries. My mum has been making hospital scrubs and gowns for the local hospital. We are looking out for our neighbours more. People are doing extraordinary things in these unprecedented times. Even a smile goes a long way. And every Thursday at 8 pm, we all go aside to clap to our carers — our healthcare system, and the ones on the front line.
3. Appreciating the value of self-care
I used to think that self-care was just about watching my favourite TV show or having a bubble bath. And whilst it can also be those things, I now understand what it means to truly take care of myself. To carve out this specific period of time for me. For someone super inflexible and unable to hold down an exercise routine, I’ve managed to stick with my yoga practice, and I’m even able to meditate in the morning and evenings and find this inner-peace I’ve never found before.
“It is so important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself.”
~ Diane Von Furstenberg
4. Personal connections are becoming stronger
We now all share the same, common purpose — to get through this current time together. We have been reminded how much we need each other, how much we value our relationships, and how much we actually enjoy spending time with each other. Maybe the old adage is true, “absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
5. It really is about the little things
The early mornings, the sun shining, reading a good book, cuddling your pets, smiling, laughing, having a great conversation with someone — these are the things that matter in life. These tiny moments that make up your day. The things we appreciate now more than ever. The simplest things in life are often the ones that make us happiest and I hope we can all remember this long after this is all over.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” ~Robert Brault
Written By Amy Cubbon
Week 20, May ’20
