Page 5 - Isolation Guide: LEP Special E-mag Edition v2

Spring, 2020 i
lep.co.uk | facebook.com/lancashireeveningpost | @leponline
Use this isolation period to re-evaluate your goals
here is much rwe as adults
can learn from the children in our lives during these current
uncertain times, writes Sue Curr.
How many ofus, growing up, were told to stop day­ dreaming and get on with it?
Far too many ofus. And to great effect, I would suspect, iftruthbeknown.
My grandmother used
to tell me “there are dream­ ers and then there are doers in this world and those that spend their time ‘dreaming’ never amount to anything”.
Now I loved my grand­ mother beyond words but I have to say that, if she were still here today, I would have to call time on her assump­ tion.
Because, in reality, we need a to be willing and able to do both.
Today, we as a species suddenly find ourselves in varying states and stages of isolation. And I’m equally sure ‘isolation’ is the one wrord we’re all tired ofhear­ ing!
But we humans are al­ ready learning that our new way of being - albeit it forced upon us - for our greater good is, in the long- term go­ ing to bejust that.
Now, whether that’s some­ th ing you believe possible or notjust now, it’s safe to say that only time holds the as yet unknown answer to that particular theory But why not instead take advantage of the prolonged period of isola­ tion we have in front ofus to take pause or, indeed, stop?
Stop, long enough to rea­ lign to the events unfolding around us and not be scared by them, but to realign and take on board that nothing will ever be the same again for countless millions.
And take pause long enough to regroup and refo­ cus your effort and energy into allowing yourselfto
‘go back in time’ for a little while each day and dream, plan and get excited about all the possibilities waiting for you on the other side ofyour fears.
If it s a long time since you allowed yourself to delve into the realms of possibilities then you might need to do a little brainstorming.
Grab vourself a piece of
paper (the bigger the better) and start to write.
Take one ofyour dreams or goals and ask yourself, what do you need to stop do­ ing, what do you need to do less of, what do you need to keep doing, what do you need to do more ofand, finally, what do you need to do more of.
Then take the actions you’ve identified and weave
them lovingly into your dreams before taking both and moulding the ‘daydream’ that your inner child has opened up to you as being possible, but from which you are the master ofyour fate.
Above all else remember this, the best investment we will any ofus ever make dur­ ing our enforced isolation from those we love and our ‘normal’ everyday familiar lives?
Quite simply, we should be kind to ourselves, what­ ever that means to vou. Onlv
you can know, but know one thing for sure, choices we make in coming days and weeks can and will impact positively on our future, if we make use ofthe dual gifts of isolation and ‘added extra time’ that brings with it.
My suggestion for you this week in terms ofmak­ ing a decision is simply to ask yourselfifyour life be­ fore COVID-19 was a life that left you frustrated, over­ whelmed, anxious and de­ pressed?
Or indeed if for any other reason it s not a place that
you want to ‘go back to’? Ask yourselfwhat you do
want your life to look like in six months’ time. And then make a decision to begin planning how you’re going to make that happen.
You could, of course, start with the brainstorming men­ tioned previously.
Remember, only action changes things!
MEWS