10 things to be thankful for during this time of self-isolation

Today, one of the writing groups I attend decided to have an online meeting, and this is what I write on the topic of “Underground.”

It feels like, in our current climate, we’ve gone underground. Hidden away in our homes, unable to experience much of the outside world, cut off from our families and friends, apart from the gift of the internet or our phones to stay in touch. Even our church buildings have been closed down, to limit the virus’ spread.

Some of us would love to hide under our duvets until the threat of Coronavirus has passed, fall asleep and wake up when we can go back to normality. Have the freedom to exit the house whenever we want to, travel by public transport to the shops, visit our friends and go about the daily hustle and bustle.

However, there are some benefits to this ‘underground’ existence:

• A slower pace of life
• Time to breathe
• Time to appreciate the natural world around us
• Be thankful for being alive
• More time to connect with others
• Less stress as there is less work to do
• Less pollution, as cars stay parked at home
• No commute time to work
• A new appreciation for our teachers, NHS staff, shop workers and delivery drivers.
• A plethora of songs about coping with threat of Coronavirus and how to stay safe!

For myself, personally:

• More time to play in the garden with my kids
• Time to play a board game or swingball
• Catch up on paperwork that’s sat there, undone
• Seeing the birds hop and feed in the garden
• Water the plants and plant new seeds with my son
• Time to cook from scratch, try new recipes and eat fresher
• Connect more with my creative side: sketching, writing, making cards
• Baking a malteaser cake for my son’s birthday
• Having afternoon tea at home to celebrate my birthday
• Looking out for our vulnerable neighbours, buying them some shopping
• Video calls with old friends who we’ve not been in contact with for a while
• Groups moved to online meetings, enabling us to chat, write and share together.

Although we may feel cooped up and socially isolated, this too will pass. We will get through it, taking it one day at a time. Hold onto hope, trust God to bring us through and to the end of the pandemic. To a strengthened community spirit and a more outward focus rather than just on our own individual lives.