Keeping it Kind

It is at these times that I have always been taught to “look for the helpers”. When life is truly challenging it brings out the real and varied nature of humans. Our responses are instinctive. They reflect our true selves.   I have seen some appalling behaviour from our species over the past few weeks. People stealing, shoving, fighting, behaving recklessly and inconsiderately. There have been unkind acts and unkind words.  But facing this down has been a tidal wave of goodness. Of people doing the right thing. People choosing to behave with kindness. It has been a great thing to witness.  My neighbourhood has started a Bear Hunt. When the younger children head out for a short circuit of the cup de sac for exercise and sunshine they can try and spot all the Bears that have been placed around people’s houses: in windows, on porches, up trees! They change location daily!  Our parish has created a vulnerable list and people have vol...

This blog is prompted by the words of someone that I once considered an unshakeable, lifelong friend. In a recent falling out (unpleasant but it happens and I’m generally quite quick to try and fix things and move on) words were written on a page that I don’t know if I can forget. I can forgive because I know they were written in haste and anger and their unkindness and impact was not considered or measured by the writer at the time. But I will struggle to forget.  I have dealt with sporadic episodes of anxiety and depression for over 20 years. As a teen I was suicidal and have found myself on the edge of that path again subsequently at intervals in the following two decades. Luckily I have incredible friends and family and a strong self preservation instinct in the moment. But this doesn’t change the thoughts that led me to that point.  The writer expressed their anger over my “misery” and “cry wolf” attitude. They found me boring and a burden.  An...

I will be honest. My temper has flared slightly during the oppressive anxiety storm surrounding Coronavirus. I have felt tautly on edge.  Until I realised that this helped no one. Not me. Not others.  I decided to look at my options;  A/ I could focus entirely on me. No one would blame me in the current situation. Hide away from the world and pretend it wasn’t happening.  B/ I could panic, indulge the click bate, stock-pile shop and generally add to the chaos  C/ take practical measure to make sur I was ok but also that others were ok too!  I did a bit of A & B before quickly reaching C.  “Coronavirus: What can I do to help?” That was my google search. It came up with some truly common sense advice like “wash your hands”. Well, ok then but seriously HOW CAN I HELP?  I eventually found a page suggesting volunteering, delivering survival packages to those self isolating, setting up digital communications for the elderly who might be lonely once ...