Getting Back to Life Again

As the situation with Covid changes, and all previous restrictions begin to be lifted here in the UK, it may feel a little disconcerting.

Announcements have seemed somewhat low key, and given without much in the way of explanation or reassurance. What should feel like amazing and freeing news, doesn’t seem to have been met with too much celebration yet.

There’s a sense of trepidation – only natural, given what we’ve experienced and witnessed over the last two years, and all the fearful messages, stories and images that we’ve been exposed to.

I’m reminded of the story of the lion, who, caged for many years, continued to walk back and forth within the same space, even when the cage was lifted. It might take a little while for some of us to relax – for our minds to catch up, and begin embracing the return of our freedoms. We may feel somewhat tentative at first, and probably sensibly so (hand-washing and avoiding people who seem unwell should never go out of style!).

I’m envisioning a lovely time ahead of us in the coming Spring and Summer… the full return of socialising, events, holidays, and so on. I’m seeing more hugs, music, dancing and loving going on… water-cooler chats in the office again – connecting and sharing the events of our lives with others… oh, how we’ve missed it!

And so better, brighter days with sunshine ??????, blue skies and happy vibes ????are most definitely ahead of us. We’ve come through such a lot – probably one of the most difficult periods of many of our lives – and we are nearly out of the tunnel. Not that it will all be sunshine and daffodils! We have A LOT of work ahead of us… not least of which is properly reflecting on what happened, how it happened, why it happened and what we all learned from it, before focusing on what we now need to do, change and create anew. But, it's all coming good.

You may have noticed the “we” word there. This will not just be about how the politicians, world leaders and mega-corporations ‘Build Back Better’, but more importantly, what WE (the collective) decide needs to be done from grass-roots level upwards to improve life for everyone, and then rolling up our sleeves to do it.

I had a sense when working with Penny Plimmer on our book ‘Lockdown 2020 – A Moment in Time’: https://japics.co.uk/lockdown-book/ that despite what was happening, it would all work out for the greater good… that we would look back a few years post-pandemic and see just how much it had changed everything for the better.

Obviously, we’re not there yet. Now comes the real work! But I believed that the situation would shake everything up and highlight all the dysfunctional, unsustainable, oppressive systems and ways of living and operating that we’d either accepted, tolerated or unwittingly created; and I think it did that.

The following word are from a post I put out in the early days of Covid:

“Everything that happens (despite outward appearances) has an upside, and ultimately works in our favour. This coronavirus is no exception. It’s difficult now, and no-one knows quite knows how things are going to pan out, but despite social distancing, the impact will be to remind us all of what’s really important and what’s not, and to bring us all closer together and make us a more caring, sharing kind of society. So hold that vision! Good hearts and rational minds are going to be required.”

Well, the good hearts and minds came out in force, and that's exactly what happened (in a low-key, not given much publicity kind of way). But, we need to stay strong and keep focused on re-building our future, whilst enjoying each moment of our new-found freedom.

I’m Martine Bolton from Sunshine Corporate & Personal Development, and I’m a Trainer, Coach, Consultant and Author. I help people, businesses and organisations to optimise their thinking, wellbeing, performance and results.

Have a lovely weekend ??.