Oxford Dictionary
Every year I am surprised by the new words that are added to the Oxford Dictionary. This year is surely Covid. Can’t be Corona because that is already there. Hasn’t our world changed due to this Pandemic.
No matter if you are a disbeliever, Conspiracy Theorist, believer or a DILL
IGAF kind of person, this word has affected us. Our business life, sporting life, social life and even to a large extent our home life. Here in Melbourne moreso than anywhere else in Australia. We have found out who our friends are, how strong our family relationships are, and how working from home is not always as good as we thought it would be.
I have read with increasing concern the words from friends and colleagues and the despair they are starting to feel as this pandemic shows no signs of abating and our world is changing not for the better. Life as we know it or knew it I believe has changed forever. It will be accepted now that people will wear masks, particularly on Public Transport, sneezing or coughing in public will be shamed and we may never see 100,000 at the MCG again.
I don’t think I am alone when I see I have felt the hopelessness of Lockdown, curfew, 5km limits, and the loss of what we call privileges or rights. Funny to think that in some parts of the world, this is considerd normal. That is why we live here. Or in any “developed” country I suppose. We have all had some pretty radical thoughts over the period. I have often contemplated just running away. Trying to start again somewhere. Scotland has been high on my list. Close the loop so to speak on my heritage. Found a place, affordable, on the coast, golf course, small town, 3 or 4 pubs. Thought it was ideal. The wife wouldn’t come with me, so that threw me in another direction. I would have to give up everything. Everything I have achieved over this lifetime, personally, professionally and financially. I’ve come close to saying f#@^ it, lets go but at the end of the day, is it worth it.
Depression is hard to describe. That is why I have this blog, to vent, to get it out of my system and hopefully cleanse. Doesn’t always work. I keep syaing I should be happy, but at the same time I keep asking, Why???? Why do we go to work, why do we wake up, why do we do home improvements, Why??? Lockdown is the reason behind it this year. My poor daughter has worked just 12 weeks this year. We have been basically locked up since March. The year didn’t start very well for me. I had just secured the job that I had been waiting for, good salary, working for a friend again, and in an Industry I enjoyed. After 12 weeks I had a mental breakdown, didn’t know what to do, say, how to do it, talk to people. It was terrible. I was acccused of things I didn’t do and when proven, no apology was offered. It was a Dog eat Dog working environment with no team cohesion creating a toxic atmosphere which I was glad my Doctor advised me to get out of. To this day, no-one from the company has contacted me to see how I am going.!! So much for friendships.
I have a small group of friends around me, including some health professionals, who in the course of providing medical assistance have become good friends. Their support and care has assisted me greatly this year. I know I have a loving family but sometimes you need to have someone outside your 4 walls to assist. I know I still have family passed looking over me. I talk to them often and hope I am not letting them down.
I know the world will get through this, we will get through this. How we come out the other side is anyone’s guess. Psychologists talk about Mindfulness and somewhere to escape. This year had been looking promising. I was just down to single figures golf handicap (a long term goal) and my good lady wife and I were celebrating 30 years married. Lots planned, lots cancelled. Shows, night away, overseas travel. All gone. We shared a sausage roll on a park bench together, hoping the Police didn’t fine us.
Thanks for reading my ranting and raving. As I said it helps me focus and remove some of the blocks in my life. Getting my first tattoo started me on the journey. Now I have 4. Maybe I need to focus more. Writing my book Youngy’s Yak and publishing on Amazon was a great cleansing experience as well. I want to start on the next one and include Manus Island in this one.
Take care of each other and I will try and not take so long for one of these next time.
Youngy's Yak 