Beware the Joy Thief

In recent weeks whilst listening to people, it has struck me that many people are not doing the very things that they love doing and could be doing.

Of course, I can’t say this without acknowledging that there are many things that we cannot do right now whatever our circumstances.  

And of course right up there is the inability to be with those we love.

This is no small loss.

And it is dragging on.

However, it can be easy to become so immersed in the frustration, disappointment, despondency, irritation, repetitiveness and sadness of this lived reality that we fail to see above or beyond it.

Or that we get so distracted by judging who we think is and is not following the rules that we cease to see let alone implement what we could be doing differently within our own lives. (A flawed and fruitless part of human behaviour not restricted to pandemic times!)

Upon further questioning, people typically begin to recognise that there are creative pursuits and fun or relaxing endeavours that are still entirely possible at this time.  Things in fact that they love doing but are not!

How easy it can be to lose sight of what is possible whilst in the midst of the unavoidable restrictions and subsequent losses.

We are all human.

We all get stuck at times.

We all get fed up.

We can all fail to see what is happening right under our noses.

But please, be especially alert at this time to the joy thief whose rampage is particularly subtle but also addressable.

We cannot control the pandemic or when and how the restrictions will be lifted.

But we can choose not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

If you know there are things that you love doing and that are possible at this time, go and do them!

As the pandemic reminds us, life is too fragile to waste a single day not making time for that which uplifts, nourishes, relaxes or brings forth joy and laughter.

Come on people, we are allowed to lose our your know what as long as we don’t hurt ourselves or others in the process but there comes a time when we need to choose not to lose the joy that is possible.

As I keep hearing at the moment, life is for the living …