Recently, I’ve been looking hard to find the good in things; the silver linings, the positives among the negatives. Why? Well, I’m tired of being sad at the state of the world! That’s not to say I’m ignoring what’s going on, not at all. Just amongst the deaths and politics of our current Coronavirus induced climate, I want to find little moments of happiness.
So with the country in lockdown, I’ve chosen to look for little moments of goodness. I know this won’t be the same for everyone; I am very aware that I am lucky enough to work from home, isolate if necessary, don’t have anyone depending on me, and haven’t had my entire life shifted by lockdown. As soon as isolation was implemented, my anxiety spiked, but finding little moments of joy to hold on to has really helped keep me grounded! So, let me tell you about the pockets of goodness I’ve found in lockdown, and I encourage you to do the same.
Getting exercise. Boy oh boy, I was unfit coming into this lockdown! I had started to develop an unhealthy bus-to-work habit which did not have a good effect on my fitness (or wallet for that matter). Now I don’t even have the option to walk to and from work, so all activity ground to a halt. Then came PE with Joe Wicks. My housemate started joining his livestreams, and then I joined when she moved to doing the workouts first thing in the morning. Yes, yes, yes, there have been improvements! I used to end his videos sore, out of breath, and still not being able to do the basic of the basic movements (plus, I would get a serious case of creaky knee). A few weeks in and I can now do over ten pushups, a plank for over thirty seconds, sit-stretch to my toes, and…. wait for it…. I actually enjoy exercise. WHAT? I’m happy to wake up early to workout, I like the feeling I get after it. It’s only taken twenty-three years to shake the school PE induced fear of exercise out of my system.
Saving money. I did not realise how much money I spent on pubs, restaurants, travel, and ‘oh I’ll just go window shopping…’. It was a lot. Alot-alot. Now all of that money can be used for more important things like, you know, surviving, paying bills, and actually saving. Thanks to COVID, I’ve also had trips to Liverpool, Dublin, Hay Book Festival, and Victorious Music Festival cancelled (and rightly so!). This means refunds have been sent my way (or will be, when business starts running as usual as they can be). Sure, I’m still spending money on non-essentials, stationery and houseplants being my main vices, but nowhere near as much as if I could roam freely.
Trying new recipes. I’ve always loved cooking, and am the chef de cuisine in my relationship, but lockdown has brought out a whole different chef-y side of me (yes, I am now Remy from Ratatouille). I’ve leveled up my kitchen with a knife sharpener, spice rack, and a tray of oils and salts that live on the counter. I live, eat and breathe the Bon Appetit YouTube channel (but that may be fangirl behaviour, as opposed to chef-y behaviour). And farewell to my staple recipes; we are trying new things in the Rosie Abigail household! My favourite recipes I’ve tried so far have to be lemon basa fillets, Chinese sticky chicken, potato gnocchi, and carbonara from scratch. Catch me only using extra virgin olive oil, fresh garlic, and non-iodised kosher salt from here on out, boys!
Resting. Being in a constant state of anxiety has meant I’ve had to step back and stop more than usual, and in all honesty, more than I’d like to. But stopping, resting, and implementing self-care is a good thing! My skin-care routine has finally become that, a routine, and my skin is happier for it! I’m having earlier nights to match my early morning workouts, and I’m getting deeper sleep. I’m having to find ways to distract myself from the world so I’m taking time to play video games (I love you, Red Dead Redemption II), watching documentaries (here’s to you, The Imagineering Story), and I am finally reading books that have been on my TBR for years.
So, although the world is in disarray right now, in more ways than one, it’s important to notice that it’s not all bad. There are still moments of goodness to be found, and it’s important to find those moments, and hold on to them. Let me know what silver linings you have found in lockdown, I’d love to know!
Rosie x
rosie abigail 
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