Yesterday I was going to write about social distancing. Why some of us are having issues with complying with the government’s edit to stay at home. Indeed when walking my dog at 7.30 last night my local park was still full of people playing football and socialising. But you might have noticed that no blog materialised. That is because I got so bogged down with researching into the psychology of isolation and social distancing that I went into a bit of a meltdown. My way of coping with all of this is to not focus on the bigger picture. To take it day by day. Baby steps. The bigger picture is too much for me to cope with especially as I am on my own. But yesterday my research started to take me down routes that was definitely not good for my wellbeing, so I had to shut down. Instead I watched some mind-numbing television – Instant Hotel escapist stuff with beautiful landscapes about hotels in Australia.
Today, however is another day. And I am writing about Hope. The inspirational Maya Angelou said, “Hope and fear cannot occupy the same space. Invite one to stay.” So, I choose Hope. Because there is no other option – it is what it is. I think this has become my mantra over the last 3 years. And in this spirit last night I started a 30-day mediation course with Deepak Chopra. It was all going very well until Izzi, unsure of what was going on and why I was sitting cross legged, silently in the middle of the floor decided that I needed a good face licking. Things got worse when I began chanting – and Izzi not wanting to be left out, – accompanied me with some ferocious barking. Mo sauntered off in disgust. Maybe tonight Izzi should stay in another room.
Today began with a 6.30 walk in the woods. And there in the middle of the wild garlic hung a rainbow. With a message that read, “Rainbows make you happy – have a good day.” In the spirit of Hope what a lovely way to start the day. There is so much wild garlic at the moment that I couldn’t resist filling, yet another bag of this wonderful herb. Chef son Jake told me to wizz it all up with some white vinegar and salt and it would keep well in the fridge. It is actually delicious and I used it as salad dressing for lunch. Quite proud of myself – I am becoming an accomplished cook.
Which is more than I can say for my housekeeping. Remember the stories about the little house elves that used to arrive at night when you were asleep and clean your house – or were they fairies or maybe they were The Borrowers? Whatever. I loved that family of tiny people who lived secretly in the walls and floors of an English house and had to “borrow” from the big people in order to survive. But I digress whoever they are – they are arriving at night when I am asleep and causing havoc. There is no other possible reason why I come down every morning to such a messy kitchen. I am on my own, I cook for one person, so it is impossible that there are plates and pots and pans scattered around the kitchen.
Come on guys enough – tonight I am going to pretend to go to bed and then creep downstairs and catch you in the act.
Talking of housekeeping – I have another job ear marked for today. Cleaning up my emails. I have 37,866 in my inbox and 14,902 of them are unread. So, if I was to go through 250 a day, then in 140 days I would have been through them all. That’s 20 weeks which means that by the end of lock down I will have a clean inbox. Or not as they seem to multiply daily. I keep unsubscribing but it is like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, no matter how much I empty the inbox, they keep refilling.
I am off now for Day 2 of Deepak Chopra’s meditation course. Need to keep the ‘Hope’ on course.
“Lets be safe out there”
Serendipity Me 