Current times: new from the old?

There's a few things I want to share - and they're really new to me. My thoughts feel to be in development but I felt others might find some comfort from them. One thing I need to say is the situation was frustrating me and was really getting me down, hence taking action to step away from news, from constant media on the topic. It's definitely something that helped ease my anxiety around it and whilst I can dip in here and there, constantly bombarding me from all angles didn't feel good.

Another is that I have this feeling...  this could just be crazy talk - you can stop reading here if you like - but if you're with me so far, my feeling is perhaps we could start to find a new way through. The fact that we're all so busy all of the time, too busy to talk, too busy to stop - in fact too busy to stop until our body makes us. I've been there and it's really not clever. To burnout. To push and push and push - for what? What's all the striving for? 

For some of us, for money, for food, to survive. To support our families. I've been a single parent - with maintenance input - and have friends who've done it all themselves. I have support from an incredible family. They really are amazing. I've had friends who've done it without that. So yes, some of the striving is needed, and I would never want to downplay that. Striving meant survival. Once it reaches a certain threshold though, the keeping getting more and more and more all the time. Do we need to do that? Society has certainly told us so. Nature however shows us that there is growth and death and an eternal cycle of letting go and enjoying and letting go again.

I do have concerns right now - for self employed people unable to work online, or those on zero hour contracts who have nothing lined up in terms of income due to their line of work or circumstances, for an uncertain future. And I'd like to be able to do something about that. A fund? Help those near me if I can. I'm unsure how that needs to unfold but without support from a government source to help ease the impact of these times, I feel it needs to come from somewhere. I'd love to have conversations with those who may have insights into what something like that could look like. I guess the food banks are open and running but feels like we're going to need more than that. You can't pay a bill with a tin of beans. It feels like perhaps those who've got a few spare £s could help out those who haven't. Not as a loan, my feeling is as an unconditional gift of kindness. If you're interested do get in touch.

Concerns around health for loved ones and others is another one, though I'm not heavily tapping into the fear around that. I'm doing what I can and there's a great medical service when it's needed, and also much homeopathy can do so much to support viral flu type symptoms. My previous blogs Current times and Current times: part 2 share some thoughts. Since those were written I've had contact with colleagues updating me on more cases that are doing well with homeopathy. One was someone with type 1 diabetes too. A good recovery using homeopathic medicines. Of course take the conventional advice. I don't suggest anyone doesn't. But if you're a holistic health advocate or user, there's much you can do alongside that too.

What I am excited about though, is that perhaps there can be a new way we do things. We've become a throwaway society focussed on growth and expansion and frankly more and bigger and bigger. Bigger cars, bigger TVs, bigger holidays. More. Doesn't work? Get a new one. My partner has had a non-working Dyson for about 4 years now, this last week has stripped it all back and put it together - it works perfectly. That's not my thing, but I'm so happy he's done it and love the make do and mend approach. We've a table, given to us for free by a friend and I've just painted it up - looks as good as new and am so excited about waxing it and sitting down for our first meal at it. I've refurbished cushions recently for a new bedroom from old ones I've had for years with a cut off of fabric I found at a local shop.

Perhaps we can develop better, more cohesive communities. Perhaps we can rally around and look after our elders - which seems to be happening in communities around the UK. Maybe this can continue after the current time. The elders have so much to offer in so many ways and to honour this is beautiful.

I've no answers, only questions, but I guess my big one is, we're here right now, so what are we going to do - to feel fear and panic, or to feel love for our planet and our fellow creatures? I'm going for the latter where I can. I'm excited about the creativity that might come about, the gentle leaning into nature. It feels, it really does, like this could be an opportunity for the planet to breathe, to recover. And I believe we can use it for such ourselves. To go inside, to meditate, to discover, instead of distracting and striving outwards all the time.

​Get in touch if you'd like to be a part of something - I don't know what it feels like or looks like but if you've got a similar vision I'd love to hear from you. 

With much love,

Em 


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