I was amused by something I saw posted on someone’s wall. It said: ‘Stay at home, it’s too “peopley” out there.’ It really made me chuckle.
A Coronavirus pandemic is not a funny situation at all, and we are concerned about all the people who are suffering as a direct result of this pandemic and other related issues. I understand that and I completely sympathise.
However, I have found that since lockdown, there are so many things that I am happy about from many spheres of life and I want to share some of these with you.
Medicines, Health and Wellbeing
I have a medical condition for which I have been taking medication. One tablet in particular dealt with my problem really well and in addition, helped me to lose weight. However, with that medicine, I found that I needed to have a wee very often during the day. I was fed up with that part of the problem because it got quite embarrassing especially if I was out and needed to use the loo multiple times.
In addition, as part of my job role, I was on the road quite a bit and it was just not convenient to be using the toilet too often. So guess what I did? I stopped taking the medication, and needless to say, my weight went up and my condition was under poor control.
Well, it took me a few weeks, but I finally thought that during lockdown is the ideal time to start taking that medicine again. I’m at home, it’s convenient to drink as much water as I want and use the toilet as much as I want. So I have started on the medicine again and it is working wonders. So in this instance, lockdown is positive.
I find that the most convenient time for me to go walking is first thing in the morning, within an hour or so of waking up. If I don’t go then, I don’t feel like going and I miss out. If I were going to work, I would not be able to fit a walk in that early in the morning. So for that reason, again, thanks to ‘Rona’ I get my early morning walk in, and hopefully, it is helping me to stay healthier too. I like the fact that there are fewer people out and about so early too.
For my well being, I don’t like the feeling of being stressed or under any prolonged pressure. I have had a lot of stress in my teaching job so much so that it affected my mental health. I do not even like thinking about it! But now, I am home and I have none of that stress. I sometimes wonder how workplace bullies are getting on at home!
I like that I get to experience absolute peace within my family. We spend more time together (not as much as I would like still!) We play games together, there is harmony, we all get along and that must be good for all of us and our mental health. Thanks ‘Rona’.
The Environment
I am sure that Mother earth is rejoicing in some respect as a result of the pandemic. I see the earth being able to breathe more freely, being less polluted from toxins given off from factories, farms, and vehicles. There is less pollution too from rubbish that we discard from our cars that is so distasteful to look at! I swear the air feels fresher on my walks, the birds sing a sweeter tune and wildlife have more of an opportunity to flourish.
Savings and loving lockdown
Some months before the pandemic hit, I asked my mortgage provider for a one month mortgage holiday on two of my properties. I was declined. On both. When the pandemic hit, I was offered three months’ worth of mortgage holiday on both properties! Now I expect that there is going to be a slump and economic decline in the near future and so I have been smart about things and have used the money from my mortgage holiday really well.
I know that it is not free money, and I have weighed things up quite practical and have figured that how I have invested this money is a smart move compared to just continuing to pay the mortgage as normal.
I have also seen savings from not using my car as much, not buying every little thing on offer that I don’t need. And a big saving has come from having lots of time to work in my garden and being able to plant things which I am now reaping, thus saving me money I would have spent buying these in the supermarkets.
I am spending a lot of time reading up about investing, making money, how compound interest works, etc.
Volunteering and Supporting the NHS
It has always been a plan of mine to help as much as I can, whenever I can. I have been able to help individuals and organizations in the past but it still did not feel like I was doing enough. So when the opportunity came during lockdown to help with making scrubs, bags, and masks for key workers, you can bet I jumped right on board with it.
Our living room was transformed into a sewing room. There was a station for cutting and sewing, one for ironing and another for packaging the finished items. We had a whole lot of satisfaction from playing our part in that endeavour, and I kind of had the feeling of what it must have been like during war times to know that we were playing our valiant part toward a very worthy cause.
YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU! We said yes to the call. I would not have been able to do that if it was not for Coronavirus. For one, the need would not have been there, and also I would be busy working and would not have the time.
Earnings from a Small Industry
During the lockdown, we found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands and in between online jobs, we would engage in crafting which is a passion of ours. Well, I am pleased to say that that passion has morphed into a small industry which has made us some earnings! We learned to make crafts that we had no knowledge of before.
Thanks to extra time on our hands, we have been able to participate in some online teaching groups. As a result, we have honed our craft-making skills and now make an income.
We have been able to invest in quite an expensive bit of machinery for our craft and I am pleased to say that we have made that money back. That would not have happened pre corona. So thank you.
Recipe Development
You may or may not know that we are Food Technology teachers and so for all for most of our professional lives, we have been involved in recipe development. Nothing new there. However, the pandemic gave us an opportunity to do even more recipe development which we have published. However, just by accident, we came across a way to make the most amazingly moist carrot cake .
We have also shared how to make a vegan version of jamaica’s national dish.
You must try this recipe and tell us what you think!
There are many more reasons why I am grateful for this lockdown as a result of the pandemic. I might even have to do a part 2 of the series. But I am curious to know what things you are grateful for as a direct result of the pandemic.
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Until next time,
Take care of yourself.
Jo and Leisa
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