This year has been a struggle for a lot of people. Yes it's been horrible not being allowed to leave our homes, not being able to go to work or the pub, go shopping and be able to just freely wander the streets without having to remember social distancing and masks.
This year has been a year of separation for many; families and friends separated in different countries, unable to go near an airport. Unable to hop on a train and travel a couple of hours to visit. Unable to even go and see someone on the other side of town, for fear of passing the virus on to one another.
This year has been a year of separation for many; families and friends separated in different countries, unable to go near an airport. Unable to hop on a train and travel a couple of hours to visit. Unable to even go and see someone on the other side of town, for fear of passing the virus on to one another.
I've been lucky this year living in New Zealand. We did one severe lockdown followed by a mild pain in the ass level 2 with social distancing rules. After a couple of months - we were back to normal. As long as you didn't want to leave the country, you were good to go about your life. Head to work, see your friends, go to the bars and clubs. Go for holidays! I've still dealt with separation like most people have. I haven't seen my Dad since Christmas before the virus started to spread, my mum got stuck in New Zealand unable to see my dad for almost a year and now that my mum's made it to him, I haven't seen her for six months. My brother made the decision to get out of Scotland for a while and come live in NZ. It did mean he spent Christmas in an isolation hotel - probably the most boring Christmas he will ever have in his life. But overall - I can't really complain about the effect of covid as much as others.
A lot of the world is slowly getting back to normal a year later. Vaccines are being rolled out in most countries and the virus is starting to decline. The only thing is - the effect of the virus isn't.
What about all of those people who lost their jobs and still haven't found another one. Those families forced to the foodbanks to be able to have dinner. The friends and family's that are still separated by the fear of the virus infecting them or borders being closed. Unfortunately the effect of covid is still going to be felt for a little while longer and although most people are starting to enjoy life again - others aren't. Others have already given up and decided it wasn't worth carrying on. This has been something that affected my family recently - something I'm not going to go in to detail about. But sadly losing someone due to isolation of covid hits home just how hard this past year was for some.
A lot of communities started to come together even more than they have done before. You could feel the spirit of everyone trying to get through this - together. It was a great new feeling that hadn't been felt on this scale possibly ever in my generation. It allowed some to share their daily battles. People who didn't like to open up about how depressed they were, realising that they most definitely were not alone. Those that were afraid to ask for help before, were asking for it without even realising. In New Zealand, when you enter the isolation hotels you get a call from wellness carers. Those working on this side of the border to make sure that you aren't feeling alone or stressed for those two weeks sitting around.
A lot of communities started to come together even more than they have done before. You could feel the spirit of everyone trying to get through this - together. It was a great new feeling that hadn't been felt on this scale possibly ever in my generation. It allowed some to share their daily battles. People who didn't like to open up about how depressed they were, realising that they most definitely were not alone. Those that were afraid to ask for help before, were asking for it without even realising. In New Zealand, when you enter the isolation hotels you get a call from wellness carers. Those working on this side of the border to make sure that you aren't feeling alone or stressed for those two weeks sitting around.
I don't really know what point I'm trying to make with this post if I'm being honest - other than the fact that if you're struggling, please reach out. Three times now in the past six months, I know of someone who couldn't carry on - and the devastated people they left behind. And that's just from people I know. In a world where everyone is so easily reachable - where I can still video call my parents, I can snapchat my cousin stupid faces on the daily, I can post photos of my day for my friends and family in Scotland to wake up to...why can't we also ask for help? Why can't we also send our friends we know are isolated a little message to say you hope they're ok and let them know we're there for them!
A lot of us know the feeling of being alone and isolated - even when we're not. That feeling that although people care about you and are there for you, is it enough? They have other people in their lives that they care about just as much and they're not always going to be there just for you. You can't constantly be asking for help from other people because all you're going to do is annoy them and drive them away! You've got to learn how to deal with all of your own problems on your own. NOT TRUE.
I will always be there for someone who needs me - whether I've spoken to you once, we've not seen each other in years or are still besties from high school. There's a very fine line between being there for people all the time to the detriment to your own mental health and being there for people when you can. I understand that completely. But if we all just help each other those little bits at a time when we need it, I hope it can make all the difference.
Be kind world. I know I'll try.
Beautifully said ❤
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