12 Months in Lockdown

So this week marked 12 months since we went into full lockdown. A WHOLE YEAR.

A year since I’ve been into the office, (god knows what’s happening to the half-eaten snacks in my desk drawer!). And everything has changed. And I’ve found it tough. It's been tough for everyone for so many different reasons.

Whether you are working and juggling home-schooling / childcare, whether you wish you were lucky enough to be a parent and had the opportunity to moan about home-schooling. Whether you don't have children and finding it tough seeing the additional flexibility seemingly being offered to parents.

For those who have been furloughed or made redundant, and struggling to make ends meet and concerned about what opportunities the future work place will hold.

To all my amazing colleagues in hospitality who have seen their industry decimated (but not destroyed). (We'll be back even stronger!)

Those of you flat sharing, tag teaming the Wi-Fi to make conference calls from your bedroom, kitchen table or sofa. (Thank god for virtual backgrounds!)

Those of you living alone missing that physical human contact or person to down a glass of wine with after a day of zoom calls or a Disney+ binge (other streaming services are available!)

Those of you away from home and haven’t been able to travel to see family, for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, or just hugs.

To those who have tragically experienced the loss of loved ones and friends. Not being able to hold their hands for those final days. Not able to attend funerals or hug the grieving. It is truly heart-breaking.

For all those with delayed hospital appointments, cancelled school exams, and everything else.

And of course, for those key workers on the front line, whether doctors, nurses, delivery drivers, shop workers, teachers, all of you. It has been incomprehensibly tough.

My point is, the last 12 months have been hard. Really hard. I often feel guilty for feeling fed-up when I know other people have had it so much tougher. But it is OK to feel sad, frustrated, exhausted, overwhelmed (the list of corona-emotions goes on and on). It's not a competition on who has it the toughest.

“Everyone is in the same ocean but we’re all in different boats. Some of us are cruising, some of us are sinking and some of us are padding furiously just trying to stay afloat”.

The best thing to do? Be Kind. Check in with those in your network. You never know how much they might need it.

Happy Weekend. Stay Safe. Be Kind.