I came across a short video on LinkedIn called ‘Unity is Strength’. In it, Aardman-esque animated animals group together to protect the group – crabs, penguins and ants. It reminded me of an old TV advert (from the days before you had the ability to fast forward them all) for Unison. Again, single ants could not be heard, but as a group, they were successful. We too are certainly better together.
The vast majority of us have now been released, and that light at the end of the tunnel is most definitely brighter, for those who are not. This brings mixed emotions for many, as suddenly there is choice. Go out or not to go out, how much to go out and see people or not see people (and how many people to see). The thing that has got us through these last two plus months of lockdown? Unity. We have united as a staff and as a community to support each other and get through it. The name ‘BISS Lions’ was not given lightly, and being a member is not for the faint hearted.
So, lockdown has pretty much ended. Hair salons are once again full, as are nail bars, presumably full of those desperate to return to their pre-lockdown selves, whatever that means. I wonder how many will have embraced their more natural selves during this time, a possibly new-found acceptance of their natural beauty? I have to admit that I am not willing just yet to embrace my natural hair, not because of my increasing number of silver highlights, but due to a simple dislike of my natural not-really-interesting-brown natural colour. Highlights make me happy and give me confidence to embrace other parts of me. I’m still subjecting my not-overly-attractive feet to the world for a while longer I’m afraid, and am waiting for the right moment to cover my dodgy toenail (it has never recovered from having a sofa dropped on it during a house move over 16 years ago) with vibrant colour. I’m hoping too to replace my locked-inside pallor with something a little more sun-kissed because being slightly tanned makes me feel confident too. Confidence is not everything, but confidence, too, is strength.
So, unity. Being together. Being a unit. I had some more really awful news this week which rocked me again. My nine-and-a-half-year-old godson/nephew by choice, Harry, has been having clonic tonic seizures and is in hospital in Bath. An MRI has shown some irreversibly damaged brain tissue but no tumour. It’s the bank holiday, so the neurology department at Bristol Royal Infirmary aren’t working. More waiting for a family seemingly experiencing one trauma after another, but that’s another story. I still have many treasured memories of meeting a few day-old Harry and looking after the family by doing washing, ironing and cooking roast dinners. (Yes, despite all evidence to the contrary, I am actually capable of such things, I just chose not to partake in such activities pre-lockdown!) It was time for my friends to bond with their precious bundle and I did what I could to support. The timing was fortuitous – I was travelling home for Christmas, so I could be there for a few days at least. This time, I am not going home for a few weeks and they need me now. What’s worse is that I can’t even move myself into ‘my room’ at their house when I do get back to look after them because I need to be elsewhere making sure someone else is ok and supporting them. I cannot do anything about this, but I can show unity. I will continue to communicate and the time difference actually means that I can be in touch in the middle of the UK night when my friend is struggling to sleep. I will send some small gifts (fizzy cola bottles and dairy milk are a staple) and I am sending my love. I can’t change what is, so I will not dwell. This is something I have learned over the years. Control the controllables.
If you are so inclined, please keep my two special people in your thoughts and prayers, it would be much appreciated.
Anyway. I don’t want to end on a maudlin note, so I will re-focus. We made it through lockdown! By being together in whichever way we could, we did it. It’s thanks to some fabulous people for their creativity and determination that we have done so, and we now have to make sure that the love and support we have felt and shown endures. We have entered June and somewhat of a watershed moment. Many will be saying final goodbyes to friends and to the city they have called home. For me, it will be goodbye again, and almost certainly for the last time this time. It has been eleven incredible years since we first set foot in Shanghai and now it is time for something new. However, this isn’t about my time here, nor is it about my next journey. It is about our collective strength and what strength we have!
Happy Thursday everyone, enjoy your well-deserved long weekend.
Music today is Caledonian Sleeper from the ‘Everything will be ok, I promise’ playlist on YouTube. I was intrigued…
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