There Is Beauty In The Struggle

We entered the new year with hope and optimism, only for the rug to be pulled out from under us, with announcements of tougher restrictions and new lockdowns.

Angry, frustrated, depressed, deflated, resigned... these are just some of the words that many of you have used to describe how you're feeling since Boris' announcement last night and those of the devolved leaderships.

More so than ever, we need to dig deep and find those little chinks of positivity and strength. I find that by thinking about others - my friends and family - and putting them first, that it makes doing this all over again that little bit easier. I'm less angry and stressed. It's not about me.

Lend a listening ear, offer help where we can, just be there for them. We're all muddling and struggling through but by helping and caring for each other and showing Love, Kindness and Togetherness... there really is nothing more beautiful than this and this will pull us through.

I can't say that Aldous Huxley would normally be a Sage that I would turn to, but I read this week that he said, "It's a little embarrassing that after 45 years of research and study, the best advice I can give people is to be a little kinder to each other." Perhaps I've paraphrased a little, but I think this really is simple enough for 7.8 billion to take a moment to think over.

We may not see the effects of our actions directly, but just playing our part is such an act of selflessness and kindness to those immediately around us and also to those fighting in the front line.

We will get through this together - but only if we do this together.