I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked, and mine might not be – Anonymous.

Everyone is trying their best, in what can only be described as one of the oddest, most stressful of years ever. When I made my New Year’s Resolutions in January (which feels like seven years ago now!) I certainly hadn’t factored in a global pandemic that was about to rear its ugly COVID-19 head and turn everybody’s lives upside down.

police block

Within a week of me getting back from a visit to England, Spain was on total lockdown. Try to imagine the usual hustle and bustle – car horns beeping, people talking (loudly) in the streets, children playing, dogs barking, bars buzzing with customers enjoying a cold beer and tapa, sitting al fresco. To nothing. No noise. No people talking. Bars and restaurants closed. We were not allowed to go out with even members of our own family to help avoid spreading the risk. Everything had to be done totally independently. The only “excitement” was the routine police and civil guard controls I could see from my terrace, stopping every car coming into town to ensure they were following the rules pictured here. Also hearing the military-style street cleaning truck that sprayed bleach throughout the streets several times a day.

It was all very scary at first and then became oddly reassuring. Now the controls are being lifted little by little and that is now scary. At the time of writing,  we are fast approaching the fifth month of this global event and thankfully there are no known cases of the virus in my town, which suggests that all the extreme measures taken have worked, especially in comparison to some other countries.

Three of my key take-aways have been:

  1. Not to judge; my CVI profile has a high banker score – aloof judgement unfortunately comes all too easily for me!
    • I find repeating to myself that everyone is doing the best they can helps in stressful situations.
  2. Try to be kind and compassionate – we really do not know what is going on behind closed doors, now more than ever. Nerves are frayed all over.
    • I had a meltdown and heated argument about some spilled spinach soup – I had absolute rage in fact, I can laugh about it now but I was furious at the time.
  3. Finally, and possibly the most important, try to be thankful.
    • I have worked remotely for many years and am grateful my experience has been of assistance in transitioning the entire netlogx team to successfully work remotely.
    • Ladies, small perk – at least you don’t need to worry about putting make-up on when you wear a mask!
    • If nothing else, for most of us we have been able to spend some serious, quality time with loved ones, without all the usual distractions.
    • I’ve never eaten so healthily and been so organized with my meals, with such little being wasted which I am grateful for.
    • I now appreciate more than ever the little treats that life brings – being able to order a pizza again, sitting out and watching the stars, sharing a cold glass of wine with a neighbor…

Stay strong – I know we can get through this and in many ways, life will be better as a result of these difficult past months.