10 things I have learnt in lockdown.
It’s going to be strange to readjust. I’ve got used to being contained at home with my son, with access to food and fresh air, but being forced to stay home. It´s created a new routine and a realisation of all the things that are important and what’s not important. And the most important things are the very simple, basic, human things of life it turns out.
We will all be forever changed by this experience. The earth has had a chance to reset itself with the slowdown in humans blasting it with toxicity. The planet has had time to breathe and get itself reset. Oceans are cleaner, animals are coming out on the streets in some places, new species that have not been seen for decades are appearing, pandas are mating again, and smog has cleared in some of the big cities in the world for the first time in decades.
We have all learnt a lot with this experience. Some have had to handle fear and anxiety, worrying about what will be in the future and how economics, schooling and work will pan out after this disruption. Others have been prevented from travelling to see loved ones. We have realised how much we crave human contact and social interaction.
Zoom calls and Skype are all well and good but it’s the real contact human to human that has turned out to be the thing we realise we need. When you put computers and the internet to one side, humans like talking and sharing stories.
The first thing I am going to do when it’s allowed is go to our local beach, have a picnic with friends and swim in the sea.
We have learnt a lot.
10 Things we have been learning from the lockdown:
1. How valuable social interaction is to all of us. We crave it.
2. How much fun it is to walk somewhere, meet a friend for a drink and have a chat. Simple pleasures are the best.
3. How much people are willing to help each other, helping our families, helping strangers is a thing we have really enjoyed during this time.
4. When things are bad outside, humans dig deep and get more compassionate and a little kinder to one another.
5. Ask for help when you need it, and there is usually someone around who would like to lean in and help.
6. That our doctors, nurses, carers, front line people are not paid enough for what they do and have been like angels during this siege.
7. We are blessed to live in a place where we can buy locally grown food, have fresh air and a roof over our heads. For that, we are so grateful.
8. Social media has really helped us share news, stories, stay in touch and send out requests for help. There is an upside to being social and hanging out online and in many ways, it has kept us sane and able to connect with loved ones around the world.
9. We don’t need to go into an office to work. There are many new ways to work that doesn’t involve the old ways.
10. We create a lot of rubbish and need to take care of ourselves and the planet going forwards, starting now. The climate crisis needs as much attention as we have given to this pandemic.
Stay cool everyone. You’ve done great. Stay home and the end is in sight. The light is shining and the Spring flowers are blooming whether we are out there to see them or not.
Nature is always ready to welcome you back to the world.
The world has changed and so have you.
We have learned a lot and been through a lot. Be kind to everyone – whatever their views on all of this. We all see it differently and that is ok. We don’t need everyone to agree on the whys and hows. Let’s get on and live as kindly as we can to all those around us.
