I’ve spent the last 16 days enjoying my own private party. A party about what I can’t do anymore.

Ok I mean wallowing in self-pity.

Party style, in other words, big time self-pity party wallowing.

Of massive proportions.

Sorry MoD.

And that hasn’t even been from a personal point of view. Albeit the prospect of not seeing my Australian family and friends for many months is a devastating thought. One I try not to bring my attention to. Thank God for technology.

My wallowing has more been about what I can’t do workwise. And what I should be doing.

Yesterday I went for my usual bike ride, I’ve been doing about 10km.

In my local area.

Ten kilometres out, 10km in.

The government has been quite ambiguous about what local area means and to a bike rider, 10km is local. Son number 2 feels it is not. In the last few days the government has been a little more specific about what getting ‘fresh air and exercise’ actually means.

My 10km’s now means a lot of riding about the blocks close to home. Yes son number two, you got it right, even before the government.

As I struggled against a 40km wind (laugh you may, but I have been blown over in less), I directed my thoughts to what is really happening here.

Yes we are in lockdown.

Yes we are physically isolated from others.

Yes, we are all obsessed with COVID-19.

Yes, a lot of us are suffering COVID-19 overload.

And Yes, some of us may want to break our bubble to go and personally ‘speak’ to the stupidity of some people. People who think its ok to continue doing PT sessions in their home studio. People who think its ok to visit others because they are sure they don’t have the virus themselves. People who don’t think about the people they have been in contact with, who don’t think about the prospect that actually, they may be a carrier. Even if their intent is from the heart, to help.

But the truth of the tragedy that COVID-19 is to the world, for a lot us we have been given a gift.

A backhanded gift.

But a gift all the same.

The gift of time.

The gift of not having to spend a sometimes large portion of our day travelling to and from.

Wherever.

The gift of not having to wear makeup (sorry again MoD) and giving our skin a break.

The gift of being able to wear the same clothes again, and again, again.

And the gift of working on the ‘To Do Wish List’.

I have a lot of things on that particular list. I’ve been saving them up for an early retirement. An early retirement based on of course, winning Lotto. Ok son number two, you may be right about that as well. My odds of winning are probably exceptionally low. I really must buy a ticket.

Nonetheless my list is quite long:

• A daily Yoga practice
• Read, or at least finish one of those three books I have on the go
• Write
• Do those jigsaws I bought to ward off impending head muddle
• Harness my inner artist, specifically re-teaching myself to draw. I haven’t really drawn since mum, my biggest supporter, died suddenly when I was 12
• Quality time with our cavoodle Frankie, enjoying the benefits pets give us humans
• Clean up the garage
• Clean up the back yard, or the front yard, or the cutlery drawer that is just a teeny bit disgusting
• Sing (another MoD apology)
• Create a share portfolio. Really? Nah……
• Keep a gratitude diary.

Some time ago I read The Resilience Project by Hugh Van Cuylenburg. The book discusses how Hugh’s life changed when a young boy from Northern India put some perspective into his life. A really interesting and worthwhile book.

Keeping a gratitude diary seems a simple thing. The evidence suggests that spending just five minutes every day thinking about one thing you might be grateful for can change your outlook positively short term. Continuing this practice can help change your outlook positively longer term.

Today I am grateful for this unexpected gift of time.

And I hope I can make the most of it.