Living simply and safely
Whenever there is a major event or an emotive crisis, it is remarkable how people’s true colours show.
This Covid-19 is one and it is certainly showing up some nasty behaviour. As it is all coming from fear you can nearly forgive that. It is coming from people being worried about their children, their parents and their loved ones and it is a legitimate fear.
Stocking up on everything is natural and if my sons were at home – I would be the first to buy 3 cows, a crate of milk, a bakery and a fruit and vege shop to make sure they had food for the week – that’s my job.
But, no not the toilet paper, I don’t get that either. I doubt they even use it anyway.
However, what also happens in a crisis is peoples beauty comes out in many different forms – offering to pick up groceries, singing an Italian aria on a balcony, looking after neighbours, creating funny memes, checking in and supporting friends or being on the front line caring for people.
It is going to be the best of times and the worst of times and will bring out the same in people as all major life changes do.
Like many others I have chosen to stay at home for the duration and have done since Friday 13th at 10am. Ominous date….
I decided there were too many opportunities to pick up the virus and as I do have a weak chest, and I’m lucky I can work from home, it was a no-brainer to me.
And, well, I am loving it and I actually think it will be interesting at the end of all this to see how the family dynamic has changed and the energy in businesses and towns has moved.
Will more people ‘get’ what is really important and focus on the simple pleasures in life? Will it stop the bullying, anger and bizarre one-up-man-ship that is rife these days?
The simple things like fresh air, the beach and bush, simple food, friendship, kindness and yes working – we must work – are important.
What I have already learnt is the luxury of having control of my own surroundings and thus my mind.
The world can do what it wants but being responsible for only this small space where I stand and all in it – is truly a luxury and knowing I don’t have to compromise – well that is absolute gold.
Living in the moment is a gift and one that is sometimes hard to find, but this could be the time to try to find it. It is within our reach.
Of course, I could do with another kilo of hummus and maybe some chocolate……but how wonderful I didn’t have to stock up on bubbly!
Cheers and stay safe and quit the judgement everyone. x
‘It is perhaps a more fortunate destiny to have a taste for collecting shells than to be born a millionaire’ Robert Louis Stevenson.
