Friday ramblings

We are 149 days in 2020 and I am still holding on tight wondering when this rollercoaster of life is going to slow down. Actually, I had a day of clarity today, I gave myself the opportunity to gather some of my rambling thoughts trying desperately to find some peace in this mind that is experiencing more than just ‘monkey brain’.

Morning meditation

After an unsuccessful sleep in, I joyously found myself following my ‘normal’ work morning routine of stretch & stability exercises followed by mindfully standing at the kitchen stove stirring my porridge until it was thick, soft and creamy before pouring into a bowl and topping with kiwi fruit, papaya and coconut yoghurt. OK today I added a dash of maple syrup because after all, it was my day off.

I then sat with myself, my breath and my need to calm my thoughts in a conscious morning meditation. My guide today, like every day, Al Jeffery. I focused on the freedom from frustration and post deep breaths and blinking open my eyes to come back into the present, I felt somewhat renewed and refreshed. Time to move ahead with my day with vigour and appreciation.

COVID-19 pandemic got me all….

Now what did we anticipate would happen? We were living faster than we could download a new app. Our expectations for speed and perfection were becoming increasingly unachievable (despite what we expected) and our social distancing was not recognised as an issue because we were so socially connected via social media channels that we could no longer tell the difference that one was very different to the other.

Everything we were heading towards and kind of doing, happened. We (almost) brought this self-isolation on ourselves and now we are paying the very expensive price for our current expectation and needs. We –

• Expected everything to be discounted and/or on sale
• Demanded cheaper prices for our life essentials i.e. food
• Dialled Uber Eats to deliver food to our doors (leading to a more sedentary & isolated lifestyle)
• Celebrated social influences who lick toilet seats
• Admired those who flaunt extravagant possessions as a sign that ‘they made it’
• Celebrated $1 milk and cared little as to why our farmers were/are struggling
• Purchased pre-packed foods because we are ‘too busy’ to take responsibility for our health
• Learnt how to cook by having a delivery food service deliver us pre-prepared foods wrapped in excessive plastic
• Tried to lose weight by following a diet plan that tells us what to eat each and every day
• Contributed towards a multi-billion-dollar supplement industry to find greater health
• Drove cars that basically drive themselves in order to be ‘safer’
• Purchased fast fashion to reflect our fast lifestyle because that’s what we expect

What is this all or some of this doing? It’s dulling down our innate survival skills, making us lazy all the while giving us the mindset that we are being more efficient and effective with our time.

The sad reality

The most devastating parts about this pandemic is that lives have been lost, our health system was on the brink of being crippled and those on the front line were giving more than just their time to help us as a society survive this virus that as yet, we do not have a vaccine other than ‘to stay at home’ to protect us.

Hands together for our essential workers

We owe more than our lives to our health and emergency workers who during this time have been recognised as the real hero’s.  To the retail staff, delivery drivers, customer service champions who have done their best to provide to those who both wanted and needed household essentials – and took abuse from those who forgot they were dealing with a real person who too was struggling during this pandemic.

The worst is yet to come

Have you heard of the term ‘gaslighting’? No, well you soon will because we are about to be manipulated through our media channels who will carefully tell us this pandemic never happened, they will do their best to erase our reality. They will have you questioning and second-guessing your reality both past and present.

Gaslighting

There has been confusion, chaos and life has seemed a bit upside down and inside out and we need to recognise that this; it’s not business as usual and although we should ‘keep calm and carry on’ we need to do so without being told the past few months never happened.

What can you do when you sense ‘gaslighting’ is happening around you?

• Trust your gut; remain defiant and trust your version of reality
• Logic and reason cannot be applied (there will never be accountability)
• Believe the cup is always half full
• Continue to question but don’t come a conspiracy theorist
• Trust your perception of things; don’t let others destabilise you

Standing your ground

Stand firm on the ground in which you walk on, continue to be honest, authentic, mindful and most of all grateful. Appreciate the simplicity that life has to offer, not the glitz and glamour of shopping malls, fast cars, fast money and fast living.

Walk bare feet in nature, listen to the sound of silence, bake bread, be bored, call your family and friends, ask what book someone has on their beside table. Hug your partner like it’s the last hug you will give them and give yourself the greatest hug of all because you are resilient, strong and able.  You continue to make it through the struggles all the while appreciating what you have, not what you wish you had.

Change your reality if you are not happy, you have the power to do so because no matter how hard you try, the ground is always shifting beneath you and it’s up to you to hold tight onto whatever you can to help you stand firm and tall.

End of rambling. Happy Fri-YAY!