It’s a difficult time isn’t it? And one which leaves you with contradictory feelings. A time that can leave you feeling like you have this lockdown routine sussed, and then on other days you’re trying your best not to crumble. A time filled with worry and uncertainty, but then sometimes enjoying the simple aspects of lockdown life. By the end of a week (or possibly even a day) you feel like you couldn’t be on a more complex emotional rollercoaster…and the following week (or day) then comes.

During this time, singing and writing have been my outlets…along with the one form of exercise a day and, of course, the odd gin. I could have quite easily blogged my way through this lockdown but the truth is, when you’re in the thick of it at work and hearing about it on the news when you get home, the last thing I felt like doing was writing about my working day. It’s like working in a parallel universe which leaves you a little lost at times but obviously overall, we know the vitally important reason as to why we’re all there. 

Then there’s all the talk of the peak…are we in the peak, are we still yet to hit the peak…does anyone really know where anyone is on the peak?! But whilst we’re trying to understand that, and still understand the size of the problem, let’s start thinking about the Recovery Plan! Of course how we recover our services is going to be incredibly important and far from easy – as highlighted in the famous quote from Benjamin Franklin ‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.’ However, whilst it feels like time is moving slowly in the outside world, the pace is ever changing in the NHS so it will come as no surprise if anyone is needing a minute to just process the term ’Recovery Plan’ before even thinking about pulling one together.

Rather than a weekly blog, I decided to document some of these lockdown feelings and experiences in whatever way they presented themselves, and so has begun my mini flurry of poems. Poetry is not something I have frequently written but whilst on my walk for my one form of exercise for that day a few weekends ago, I was reflecting on the amount of times I had said ‘When all this is over’ both inside and outside of work to colleagues, family and friends. The phrase wouldn’t leave me so as a bit of a distraction, I started asking myself what life could look like post-lockdown; because during times like these, many rely on hope to see them through. And so, the poem below ‘When All This Is Over’ was born, as a comforting reminder that we are all in this together. 

If you are reading this and you are struggling to step off your emotional rollercoaster at this time, then I hope this is a gentle reminder that you aren’t alone, and that you are able to reach out to someone for any support you may need. Whilst we don’t know how long this is going to continue and life after this time will potentially be very different, it equally won’t last forever – nothing rarely does.

When All This Is Over….
 
When all this is over we’ll dance in the street,
We’ll laugh, we’ll smile and be kind to those we meet,
When all this is over we won’t be afraid,
To say how we feel and show emotion each day,
When all this is over our patience will be free,
We’ll know when to act or to just let things be,
When all this is over we’ll need less and not more,
We’ll take joy from the simple things we didn’t recognise before,
When all this is over there’ll be much to do,
To learn and to mend as we re-build each avenue,
When all this is over life won’t pass us by,
We won’t take for granted the opportunity to try,
When all this is over we’ll reach out a hand
To anyone we know who needs help again to stand,
When all this is over we won’t be the same,
This will change us forever and the memory will remain,
When all this is over you won’t be alone,
We’re in this together, united at home.