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Friday Thoughts 79 - Turbulence

Writer's picture: EAWEAW

We have somehow got to Friday again after a week which has simultaneously been a month long and gone in the blink of an eye.


Once again, I wasn’t sure what today was going to be about. I settled on a ‘word of the week’ once again. Today’s word is ‘turbulence’. We have all, in one way or another, experience turbulence this week both physically and emotionally. Many of us (‘lucky ones’) are now on day 22 of a 4-day lockdown with mixed experiences of freedoms. There is no doubt that the experiences we have had will have a long-lasting impact on us. Rather than focus on the (many) negatives, I would like to focus on the positives. A while ago, one of our middle leaders commented on how strong their team was and how many of them were now real friends rather than colleagues; they are likely to keep in touch once they leave BISS and go their separate ways. I am sure there is a quote regarding strength in the face of adversity. I usually like the age-old chestnut of ‘what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger’, although when one is in the midst of something, that is easier said than believed. It certainly is for me, anyway.

Yesterday, for the first time in a while, all 3 towers on my compound were out at the same time for testing. It was carnage! People were everywhere. Some were walking dogs, others walking their children, others walking themselves. What was particularly interesting was the rule-bending (breaking). Certain groups were ignoring the social distancing and bunching in the queue (we kept having to move to the back to avoid being too close to those behind) but returned straight to their building once finished while others maintained social distancing but thought nothing of looping the compound to do some exercise before returning. I definitely saw some people still going after a good 30 minutes…


I saw a post from a random guy in Shanghai. He is dressed in a dinner suit (and face mask) and with a dog on a lead. He, like many of us, is only allowed out of his apartment for PCR testing (we even have to leave rubbish outside our front door). So he ‘dressed for the occasion’ of testing. Why not. I know of people who have had virtual cocktail parties and date nights. Whatever you can do to maintain a modicum of normality and or sanity. We are all different and approach life in different ways, but what joins us is the fact that we all experience and we all feel. I was in a meeting earlier and the teachers were discussing how two particular students had totally opposite responses to online learning – one is a ‘bundle of energy’ and needs the opportunities to run around (very difficult during a lockdown) and burn energy while another is having the time of his life and loving learning at home with his mom. Both enjoy school but in very different ways and will now be experiencing not being at school in very different ways.

Personally, I (most of the time) feel very fortunate despite not being able to do much more than walk onto the balcony (I will never overestimate the benefit of a balcony again, and FINALLY understand the point of a Juliette balcony) or go outside for pretty much daily covid tests. The last two days of testing were rather more arduous with a good hour of queuing each time, but not going out today just feels odd now. Each time I have been able to leave the house, I take the ‘long’ route back to the building (it must add at least 100m to my walk) and then walk back to the 18th floor using the stairs. (Let’s just say it’s not a pretty sight by the time I arrive – yes Natasha, I am getting a sweat on and my heart rate is going like the clappers!) Doing some exercise daily is one of the ways I have tried to keep myself sane. I started with online group sessions which were ‘convenient’ and then, over the holiday, found myself taking part in part of a 7-day challenge (I couldn’t join the spin class due to the lack of a bike at home, but I could join in the hiit and stretch session) and loved the fact that not only did it give my days structure, I could actually feel a difference afterwards. I now attend early evening classes 3 times a week and prioritise Natasha’s daily lunchtime session. I decided that if I can’t find half an hour to spare for me (I don’t eat lunch or drink hot drinks during the day so don’t have natural breaks), it was a sad reflection and really not healthy physically or mentally. I am delighted to say that, though a combination of the above, I have now progressed from dreadful to just pretty terrible. 😊


I am not an expert and am not going to extol the many virtues of the mental benefits of physical activity, nor am I claiming that this makes anything other than a minor difference to how I am feeling. However, in these turbulent times when every grain of sand adds to the ever-increasing mound, any small thing that makes us feel better is worth it, whatever that is.


For a Friday when I didn’t feel like I had many thoughts, I appear to have thought a lot! 

So my final thought - a natural introvert, I don’t really crave company, although I do miss the children terribly. I am also very fortunate to live with my best friend and the past 20+ years have taught us that, as long as we are together, we can face anything. The sun has been shining sporadically so I’m happier and it’s also warm enough to have the balcony doors open so I’ll continue looking for the small wins, (try to) control the controlables and always look on the bright side. Well, I will still attempt to do all of the above… 


Happy Friday everyone, I hope you are/remain/become safe and well.


Before I finish, I have an erratum – I omitted to say that last week was also Passover. Apparently a 33-year occurrence. The stars really were aligning.

Music today is Extreme and ‘More than Words’. (Sandwiched between Marc Cohn and the Red Hot Chili Peppers).

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