One year on

Yesterday marked one whole year since our lives were turned upside down and we began our first lockdown. When it was announced that everything would be locked down; schools, work, parks and non essential businesses and shops would have to close, I don’t think I quite believed it at first and I definitely didn’t think we would still be where we are now a year later.

The world and how we’ve lived our lives ever since the first lockdown began has felt different, strange and surreal to me. I forget what we’re living through sometimes and then suddenly I’ll remember and feel a bit overwhelmed by it all.

This past year has been filled with so many ups and downs. I do try to see the positive with everything in life but throughout the pandemic, sometimes i’ve found remaining positive a bit hard.

• We’ve had to reassure our worrying children
• We’ve had to go without seeing our family and friends
• Many people have been furloughed or asked to work from home
• People have suffered from job losses and faced financial difficulties
• And sadly some of us have lost loved ones

Adapting to life in lockdown hasn’t always been easy for anyone BUT despite the challenges we have faced we came together as one and faced the pandemic with kindness and strength.

• We united in our goal to save the NHS and were successful. Thank you, Sir Tom and all our other heroes. We will never forget you and we will always remember your efforts, you are inspirations!
• We clapped for our incredible doctors, nurses, key workers and children to show how much we appreciate all their hard work, dedication and/or resilience throughout the pandemic
• We had to homeschool our children but that meant we also got to spend more time together with our children. We painted, we drew pictures and we made lots of memories
• Our amazing scientists worked hard to develop vaccines to help us fight the virus and we’re now seeing progress
• I believe that better days are ahead

Even though having to stay at home all the time was sometimes stressful (compared to a nurse or a doctor who has had to work frontline tirelessly throughout all of this I sound quite pathetic don’t I but truthfully, I did struggle some days) but it was during this time that I also got to make even more memories with my children and for that I am grateful. I have taken so many pictures and videos since last year and I thoroughly enjoy looking back at all the things we have done together and being reminded of what we have all been through and how we have all come out of this at the other side. I have all these memories to show my children when they are older of a time we lived through that we will all one day look back at and be like ‘omg can you remember when that happened?!’ Although this past year hasn’t been the best of times, I hope my children remember a happy time. Not a scary, worrying or sad time.

I think what I have learned most throughout this past year is that together we have faced what might be one of the toughest years of our lives but proven that when we face challenges together we can get through anything.

I am grateful for the lessons that this past year has taught me and I am even more grateful that myself and my family all have each other and our health.

What is something that you’re grateful for one year on from the first lockdown? Please let me know by leaving me a comment.

As always, thank you for reading and take care.

Kirsti, xo