To Boldly Go...

23/3/2020

Musings on coronavirus

How quickly life can change. Last weekend, I was eating lunch with family, and now I'm in self-isolation with coronavirus symptoms. All the things we take for granted have been suddenly stripped away from us - family gatherings, sport fixtures, evenings out, a quick coffee with a friend, a gym session.

It's both comforting and overwhelming that the entire world is under these same conditions. I don't have to explain what's happening to someone in the US or Greece or Budapest, because they're experiencing it for themselves.

I haven't got my head around it at all. In a way, being ill has helped because I haven't wanted to go out, but my complete isolation will end on Friday, and after that I'll be navigating social distancing instead.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a recluse. I may have mentioned it before, if you catch up with me on social media. But I now know I would be really bad at it! I need people, I need conversation with random people in the street. I need hugs.

As it stands at the moment, the launch of Grace & Serenity is still on schedule, but the signings I was planning to organise have been stalled. The places I wanted to approach are all closed, for one thing!

So far, this week:

I've written some more for my new novel, and considered writing a couple of short stories
Watched the entire two seasons of Life on Mars, and started on Ashes to Ashes
Distanced myself from the news, and especially from the government's daily press conferences - I know it's essential to know what's happening, but it was really doing nothing for my mental health
Channelled my inner Samuel Pepys and started a specific coronavirus journal, so that all my severe angst can be expelled before I open my laptop and splurge my internal panic all over the internet
When I feel better, I'll be spring cleaning and enjoying some time in my garden

What are you doing with all this extra time? Whatever it is, I hope you're staying safe, following the guidelines for whichever country you're in, and that we all come out of this stronger, calmer, and more peaceful. This might be the reset we need x