Hi there,

It’s been a while since I wrote here, for various reasons, one of them being the birth of my baby girl. Her name is Rayna and she is delightful.

There is so much going on in the world right now with the Coronavirus pandemic, known as COVID-19, which has taken the lives of thousands of people and affected more than 2 million worldwide.

In the short time I have been on this Earth I have never experienced anything like this, it is an event that has disrupted the world. The closest I have come to encountering this is reading about World War One and Two which happened long before I was born.

We all have things that we want to achieve, dreams that we have had on our hearts for a long time, goals we had made for this year when, suddenly, this virus turns up unexpected. Perhaps you finished off 2019 excited to be entering a new decade, I know I was. 

In all honesty, I couldn’t wait for 2019 to end. I was so excited to enter a new decade, new hope, new season. I was excited to spend time with friends, take my baby girl to places she has never been, introduce her to new experiences and create beautiful memories for her. Then COVID-19 happened and some of my plans have been brought to a standstill.

Here in London, as is the case in most, if not all parts of the world, we are on lockdown. All social events have been banned. We can only go out for essentials such as food and drink, and can go outdoors once a day to exercise. We have to stay home to avoid spreading the virus, and for those in employment, they are encouraged to work from home.

Schools have been closed for the foreseeable future which means parents are having to homeschool their children. Oh, what a challenge!

We are spending more time with the people we live with, not just a few hours, but for some, 24 hours a day.

All the moments we wished we had more time has been granted to us but for some people being at home isn’t a positive experience. Maybe its left them feeling anxious and they don’t know what to do with themselves. For others, if they manage to get up feeling less anxious then they would have accomplished something for the day.

Perhaps its time to rearrange our priorities and ask ourselves, when all is said and done, what really matters??

I really believe that there is a time and season for everything and maybe for this season its OK to press pause and just simply be – be still, be present. Keep living although COVID-19 has put a stop to the “best life” you were living before.

Perhaps its time to rearrange our priorities and ask ourselves, when all is said and done, what really matters?? It isn’t the material things; it’s people, its good health. A friend really challenged me this week about how its so easy to focus on ourselves and our immediate family and forget that there are people really struggling during this season, who are confronted with many challenges as a result of this virus.

Some might be in abusive households, confined with those that are hurting them and struggling to make it through the day. Just as my friend encouraged me, I also encourage you, why not reach out to others via the amazing technology that we have – a call, a text, a zoom. Your cousin you haven’t spoken to in a while dealing with depression, your elderly parents – they might need you to check in. Maybe it’s not taking 5 packets of toilet roll when you are out shopping and being mindful of otherpeople.

Don’t Give Up

Could it be that for some, you have been working so much that it’s time to press pause and focus on what really matters?

Whatever type of lockdown we have found ourselves in, don’t forget to also r-e-s-t and simply be. Watch a movie, have an afternoon nap, read a book, because like most things this too shall pass.

Normal life – working, socialising with loved ones – will start again. For some this season is a light they have craved, whilst for others, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

This too shall will pass.

Don’t give up.

Reach out.

 

Instagram: @siphobayeto @thystance