Seeking a simpler, less frantic and much slower way of life.

PipneyJane

GreyQueen said:

  I’m sorry to hear that you have not seen your eldest for such a long time, Floss, that must be incredibly difficult.

I’ve been thinking about infectious diseases in the historical context. Not going into the many iterations of the plague, it and Covid are so far apart in severity as to render any comparison facetious. But there have been other things within living memory, such as polio, and ones just past living memory, like tuberculosis. We vaccinate successfully against these now, but in their time, they were horrible beyond Covid. The world went on about its business, and you hoped not to become ill.

How did society cope? It went about business as usual. I know several people approaching 80 who were sick in the pandemic flu of 1957-58 and the flu pandemic of 1968 falls within my own lifetime. If you look at some reputable online sources, such as The Lancet, you will discover that both these pandemics were of many times the order of magnitude of Covid. Up to 4 million died globally in the 1957-58 pandemic. And that was pretty small beer for a flu pandemic in the last century.

Of course, Covid is not an influenza, but the modes of transmission are identical, and the mortality and morbidity far less than the flu pandemics of the mid 20th century. I think it’s worthwhile asking ourselves why this virus is causing such a response from TPTB? What are we being distracted from? What is coming down the road and about to be blamed on Covid?

It would be far more effective, in terms of saving lives and preventing terrible misery, to wage all-out health resource wars on diabetes mellitis. Diabetes is crashing healthcare systems across the planet, killing millions before their time, yet is mostly reversible in its early stages and generally preventable.

While I agree with you, @GreyQueen, I think the world-wide reaction to Covid-19 is because we have no grasp of the size or scale of the infection.  Personally, I think it has been around for several months longer than is officially acknowledged, so many more people have been exposed, which is why the peak in Europe across the winter was pretty nasty.  (Why do I think this?  Because I had all the symptoms of Covid-19 before Christmas.  I suffered my first symptoms of what I thought was a strange cold on 5th December.)

Back to the topic of the thread... I've been mulling over writing a blog post for the last few weeks about "do not waste your life".  I'm still trying to flesh out my thoughts.  Regular life may be on pause, but it doesn't mean that we have to sit around bemoaning what might have been and not appreciate the present. We can stop to smell the roses.  As someone who is now working from home, I think of the extra time I have from not commuting as a gift. For instance, I've started running again and, for the first time ever, I don't have to get up earlier to do it. 

So many people are suffering from low-level anxiety and/or depression right now.  The 24 hour news cycle doesn't help, nor do the daily briefings from Downing Street.  (Are they still televised?  I think I watched the first couple and then decided to avoid the news completely for most of April.)   The point I'm trying to make is that watching a constant stream of bad news reinforces the sense of helplessness, while keeping us passively watching so that we aren't burning up the stress hormones generated.  Moving, doing and creating are the best ways to combat that sense of helplessness.

- Pip

silvasava

C-J - I'm trying to do that too! I have just got rid of a very elderly loganberry, my neighbour gave me a couple that they were culling in exchange for my gooseberry so I have more than enough. I've one blackcurrant and two blueberries. This year I managed to get three tomato seeds to germinate so I do have a surplus of little plum tomatoes. I'll be freezing a lot to make spag bol and chilli. I need to sort out what to put in for winter as I'd like some home grown fresh veg too. 

Nargleblast

Well, I could do the ironing this afternoon, or vacuum upstairs, but instead I am reclining in the garden whilst there is sunshine. I am on night shift tonight so am conserving my energy. The jobs can wait. Going with the flow, making the most of whatever the weather is doing, I suspect that's what people did in days gone by, when life was simpler. My son is planning a trip away with a friend this weekend so I will have the place to myself. Now what kind of nice treats can I plan for a solo Bank Holiday weekend? 

greenbee

I'm very jealous of the sunshine Nargle! Definitely make the most of it. Housework can wait until it's dark, raining or cold. Assuming there is no urgent reading or TV-watching to do first

LameWolf

greenbee said:

People may find this article helpful https://elemental-medium-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/elemental.medium.com/amp/p/de285d542f4c

That's a very interesting piece @greenbee; thank you for posting the link, which I've also sent to DH. I think it goes some way to explaining the horrible flare I'm currently coping (or not coping) with.

Nargleblast

Excellent article, Greenbee, shining light on why we feel as we do. Acceptance, positivity and self care.

greenbee

Nargleblast said:

Excellent article, Greenbee, shining light on why we feel as we do. Acceptance, positivity and self care.

I think I'm doing ok on that. It probably helps that much of my work this year has been around the human aspects of how we adapt the workplace and ways of working to prioritise employee safety. And having had the virus (thankfully not too badly) and ongoing complications I know what the impact is, so that probably tempers the fear. I've accepted the fact that my job is gone, am feeling positive about the opportunities that presents for me to explore other options, and am spending a lot of time doing yoga, pilates (well I was, the fatigue as meant a set-back there), reading, sleeping, lying in the bath, lying in the garden and eating properly. Other than the post-Covid syndrome (which I'd like to sod off) I'm probably healthier than I've been for years, because I actually have MORE control over my life than ever. I'm not being sent off all over the world at the whim of other people (often without any good business reason). And the physical impact of that has been removed as well as the mental and emotional one. 

dreaming

I don't post that often, but my view is that what many people consider to be "normal" changes all the time albeit usually in very small increments for the most part and barely noticeable. For example (and a very basic example), when I was child in the 50s we did not have a phone at home. The only people I knew who had a phone was an aunt and uncle who ran a shop and the phone was purely for business. Then some people started to have home phones (often in the cold, draughty hallway to discourage idle chatter). By the time I married in the 70s pretty much everyone I knew had a home phone, although many of my parents generation still viewed them with hostility/suspicion. Nowadays of course, a great number of people have mobile phones, as well as other technological ways of keeping in touch  The use of phones has increased so much in 70 years (possibly too much for some people) that it really has become "normal" to have one and more "abnormal" not to. The problem when something like the covid restriictions come along is that it suddenly has a major impact on a huge number of people instead of creeping into our way of life bit by bit. Although there were warning signs, and rumour and unease in some parts, and some people started to build stocks "just in case", I think when the restrictions were implemented life suddenly became so different to what many of us had even imagined that it was like being punched in the face. Our little customs and rituals vanished overnight It seemed, and yes, not being able to see family or friends was so, so difficult. I had one adult child who was shielding due to mental and physical issues, and another who is in the health service so was going out everyday and working very long days. We were all worried about, and trying our best to reassure ,each other that "we're fine, don't worry" (thanks goodness for tthe phone and internet!). Now of course, some of the new ways are creeping into our "normal" way of life. I shop in our local Tesco Express once a week for milk, bread and a few bits of fresh fruit and veg (and a small treat), and I go once every 2-3 weeks to a larger supermarket for others items, or get a delivery (even that is easy now as supermarkets have adapted). I don't wear a mask when outside but do wear one in enclosed spaces (shopping etc.). I have realised that some of the activities I used to take part in were done mainly because I thought I "ought" to be keeping busy now I'm retired and I have already decided that I won't be going back. Other groups I do miss but we have managed to keep some sort of contact going, and I have actually realised how much I relish living/being alone and getting up each morning with nothing to do but please myself. I do still keep occupied but with things that I enjoy - and that includes sitting in the garden daydreaming sometimes as well as pottering about. I'm obviously thrilled that I can see family again, although my eldest  has Aspergers and quite likes not having face to face meetings (even with me) so, as long as I get a regular e-mail to know they are ok then I'm ok. Youngest is still working hard  - fully masked for several hours a day so has little sympathy for those who complain about how hard it is to wear one for shopping (exceptions for those with real physical/mental difficulties). So for me this is the "new normal", and as an introvert it sort of suits me (no more people dropping by unexpectedly for a coffee). I don't think life will go back to how it was before and I think the virus is here to stay, although it will mutate and evolve (as already reported in some media) so possibly annual vaccinations (when developed) in the future along with the flu jab. I've already got the routine/mindset of planning any outings instead of just nipping out here, there and everywhere as the fancy took me but I appreciate how hard it is for those who validate their lives with socialising. I do feel for those who have lost loved ones (my sister died during lockdown (not due to virus) and we couldn't have a funeral of course), as well as those who have lost jobs and are facing money worries. I am also concerned about the younger generations who are going to have pay for the financial packages the government put in place - probably through higher taxes and (more) reductions in welfare services and state pensions etc. However, life is uncertain - there really are no guarantees that what we take for granted today (or yesterday) will continue., so for me it really is a matter of changing what I can, accepting what I can't, and trying to learn the wisdom to know the difference.

VJsmum

Fabulous post, dreaming, thank you for it.

I'm sorry for your loss 

greenbee

VJsmum said:

Fabulous post, dreaming, thank you for it.

I'm sorry for your loss 

Seconded.

You make a good point that while people may have prepped for shortages/lack of access to shops, very few people have prepared for the mental and emotional impacts of lockdown. And yet many of the scenarios that serious preppers use involve isolation - natural disasters, breakdown of society etc. So it's a sobering lesson that we need to think about how to prepare for the psychological impact of change as well as the practical aspects for physical survival.