Lock-down Diaries #Covid19 Peace Be Still

I wake up at midnight and it sounds eerily quiet and yet I am at peace. Its arrived, the time some of us have dreaded, some were somewhat curious anxious to see how this time would unfold and some down right afraid. This is evident by the panic buying witnessed over the past few days leading to the lock-down. I wonder if I am calm because growing up during the Group Areas Act may have prepared me for this period or maybe I am genuinely just at Peace !

Contrary to popular belief I am actually a deep introvert...I have practiced various coaching techniques to strengthen my extrovert character but am still at my happiest when I am alone.

I have deluded myself into believing that I will emerge a more holistic, enlightened being post lock-down. I was convinced I would learn a new language, a new learn a new skill, exercise daily and lose that stubborn baby weight (plot twist my kids are 8 and 11). What a joke dahling ...we are a few days in and of course none of this has happened or is likely to happen. Reminds me of an old Yiddish proverb "We plan,God laughs.”

I stop resisting the effort I am placing on myself to do something amazing during lock-down and decide perhaps the whinging and whining about constant travel and an exhausted body was heard during a silent prayer and this lock-down is the answer to my prayers. Life is slowly showing me that I need to stop needing to have all the answers and show up all the time.....this time is an opportunity for me to rest, refresh, reset and take one day at a time.

This time has afforded me an opportunity to revisit skills and knowledge passed onto me by my grandmother (may her soul rest in eternal peace). I am recreating tastes and flavors in the kitchen that take me back to my grandmothers kitchen in a little council flat. Upon tasting some of my childhood dishes my children proclaim so innocently "mum how could you have grown up poor when you ate such good food " LOL I loved reading as a child and spent all my free time in the public library ....now I have an opportunity to read and write. I am meditating again and being more conscious, mindful and present.

A friend sent me a birthday message that read " No one is talking about the real victims during this lock-down : Aries having to stay inside on their birthday". I celebrated my birthday in isolation and I loved it. I do not even know what day it is today, and I am actually ok with this feeling of not knowing ! For those who know me, this is a significant achievement, it takes a lot for me to be comfortable relinquishing control.

Of course it is still early days, I am not sure how much longer this peace and bliss will continue but for now I choose to revel in it. Elizabeth Gilbert said “We don’t realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” And I say Long may this Peace Last even post #Covid19 and the #SouthAfrica #lockdown. With this said I wish you health #StayatHome #StaySafe