Many authors I know choose a word to help them focus at the beginning of each year. My word this year is Gratitude.This post is about the many reason I still feel grateful, even in the midst of living in this strange new coronavirus world. It is part of our #Gr8Blogs Coping in Coronaville Blog Hop, I hope it inspires you to think about the things in your life that you too, are grateful for, and if you enjoy reading this, you will also consider reading the other inspiring posts linked at the end.
As we said goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020 Australia was suffering from the worst bushfires in decades. We spent most of our Summer isolated, unable to go outside, swim at the beach or travel around this beautiful country as it burned. Wearing a face mask became our daily norm even then, if we stepped outside, it was our only protection from the hazardous thick smoke that engulfed our air. To need to wear a face mask now, is just a continuation of our norm for 2020. While I have previously listed my gratitude to the many men and women of the NSW Rural Fire Service for keeping our community safe during that time, what I am grateful for now, is the green pastures. The rain finally arrived, although in many cases so did the floods, I am grateful everyday to see my water tank full and the rolling hills of our beautiful valley all green again. The birds have all returned, the sound of them singing in the trees is blissful, and the kangaroos are beginning to look healthy again. Now my word for this year seems to be even more valid than ever before.
The valley is so much greener after the rain.
A stark contrast to smoke hazed brown Summer.
I am grateful to live in this rural valley. It’s easy and comforting to isolate out here in the fresh country air, (grateful we can breathe said country air now). Grateful that our neighbours are within sight, but there if we need them, and far enough away to make self isolation easy.
My neighbours to the south are up on the hill in the distance.
My neighbours to the west are nestled among the trees.
My neighbours to the north are over the far side of our northern paddock.
I’m grateful to have Mr B home safely from PNG. Being married to an engineer working in the oil and gas industry means we spend much of our time apart as he travels to sites. The coronavirus at least has him home for the next few months. The hardest part about his return has been self isolating from our grandson for two weeks. Even though Mr B arrived back in Australia before the notice that those returning from overseas were to isolate occurred, we made the sensible decision to do so anyway. Not only did we not want to risk infecting our grandson, but his great-grandfather who also lives with them. Making our poor little man understand why he can’t visit us up in the big house when he lives in the little house right next door on our property has been heartbreaking. Each time I walk outside I hear his cries to Nanna from a distance. I am grateful we only have four more days to go until I can give him big hugs again.
I am also grateful that not only Mr B but my sons, can all work from home. Both son no# 2 and 3, live here on our property with us, keeping family close at this time is comforting. As they both work in different parts of the IT industry, it is possible for them to continue to work away from the office. I only wish son no# 1 wasn’t so far away in Perth. That brings me to another thing to be grateful for - video chat. I couldn’t imagine the separation that isolation brings without being able to chat via messenger/face-time/ or Skype. We have a new grandchild due to be born early July and had planned to fly to Perth soon after the birth. That is looking less likely to happen at the moment, at least I will be able to see him/her over the internet. It won’t be the same as cuddling the baby in person, but at least I’ll know I will have done by bit to keep my family safe. Family is and always will be my number one priority.
Grateful to have had all my family home together for Christmas.
Talking of video chats and Skype. I am so grateful to the team at the Queensland Writers Centre for doing all they can to keep Adaptable going ahead. While events are being cancelled all around the country, including many I was booked to attend, some at least are only postponing. The great team at QWC recognise that it would be very disappointing for this years winners of the competition to miss out just because the Gold Coast Film Festival has been cancelled. Instead, they have arranged our pitches to producers to still occur via Skype. I had my first pitch practice session with a producer the other day and I must admit, doing it over a video chat made it somewhat less nerve wracking. I hope I can feel the same when it comes to the real pitch in a few weeks. I am also grateful that at least one event wasn’t cancelled. The Royalla Country Fair still went ahead before the order to avoid all outdoor gatherings with over 500 people in attendance came into place. It was a fabulous day out here. Admittedly the crowds were down from usual, at least people were able to practice social distancing. I still met and chatted to lots of friendly neighbours and read to a great group of kids.
The last event before everything was cancelled, grateful we had a wonderful day in the fresh country air at the Royalla Country Fair.
Self-isolation and social distancing doesn’t need to be that difficult or something to be afraid of. It is however important to your loved ones and the wider community. We all need to take responsibility and help slow the curve of the spread of Covid-19. As authors we tend to naturally isolate ourselves and rely on the internet to maintain connections. That key to stay connected online is more important than ever before and I am grateful for all the friends I have made. You too, can find new ways to reach out to people, join new online groups or do those online courses you always put off. But the main thing is to remember the most important people in your life, your family. Embrace them and hold them close if you can. Use this time to make memories with them, read with them, share hobbies around the house, walk and explore the garden. My daughter-in-law has even started a vegie garden, something I have been meaning to do here for years. For us, at least we have 13 acres of our own to explore and a fabulous green valley where we can walk and never see another person. Just remember to take time to breathe, relax and think of those things in life that make you grateful.
These are indeed unprecedented and distressing times. What are you doing to help you stay calm and sane? Does thoughts of gratitude help? I hope I have given you something to think about. Please share in the comment section below what you are grateful for? But before you go, click over to the other #Gr8Blogs for more inspirational advice.
Cat Michaels - I Refuse to Waste Away in Coronaville
Rebecca Lyndsey Coping in Coronaville
Rosie Russell - Ideas on How to Cope in a Coronavirus World
Julie Gorges - Ten things Baby Boomers can do if self Quarantined
Chris Gorges - 7 Ways to Cope with Coronavirus Fatigue
Carmela Dutra - How to Stay Positive in a Coronavirus World
James Milson - Coping With The Coronavirus Challenge Now
