Isolationdiaries.net 31st March

I’m feeling rather maudlin today as I learned of a death which brings this whole situation very close to home. But you don’t need me to remind you of what’s going on. The BBC can do that.

My impression from speaking to people is that self-isolation is starting to become “real”. Maybe last week was a bit of a novelty – a chance to catch up on chores and set up Zoom feeds with pals. This week there’s more of an appreciation, I think, of why we are doing this, and of the very real human cost.  

CNN put out a chilling post today about global unrest and the extent of anger visible in many geographical locations worldwide – often for very different reasons, but with a similar effect; to further polarise people into factions.

·        People angry at their governments

·        People angry at other socio-economic groups or ethnicities

·        People angry at inequalities

·        People angry at a virus

I don’t pretend to have any answers for this. I merely know that each and every one of us has to take responsibility for how we behave, both now and as situations evolve over time.

If ever in our lifetimes there was a time for listening, understanding and supporting others, this is it.

Let me put it another way 

To lighten this up, let me admit something; ,my partner of nearly 10 years, Bob, gets a MUCH easier time from me than my ex-husband ever did.

It helps that I like Bob of course but then I actively seek ways to like him, every day, and in doing so, I easily find them.

Being older, I appreciate that I won’t like every single thing he does (chance would be a fine thing) and that none of us can ever be perfect in deed, motivation or a mystifyingly large shed collection (okay, that one is just us).I have a clear choice; to accept flaws, frustrations and mistakes in someone I respect and value above all others OR, I could focus on the things I like least; the things that are not perfect.

Turn the mirror around and he is doing exactly the same, thank goodness.

There are huge things going on around us. Many of them we may not be able to influence. How we process and react to them however is an entirely personal thing. 

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