With everything going on right now it’s more important than ever that we stay connected and carry on talking about mental health. To help start conversations, our volunteer Angela has written some great poetry on the current COVID-19 lockdown, and the impact it’s having on our wellbeing.
The world as we know it has all been torn away,
The things I do to keep me well as I navigate each day,
The routine that I follow to keep me on the ground,
It’s scary as I realise that my world is upside down.
I tell myself “don’t panic!” as anxieties run high,
Radical acceptance and no longer asking why,
Self-Isolation is the phrase I often hear,
I pick up the telephone to keep my loved ones near.
I take my medication in the morning when I wake,
Reminding me the value of the effort I must make,
My mental health could suffer if I don’t stay self-aware,
It’s vital that I always make the time for my self-care.
I’m learning every day that my routine is the key,
I need to find a purpose for the person I can be,
Exploring a new world that is flourishing online,
Repeating in my head that it’s going to be just fine.
I don’t’ need to feel lonely even though I am alone,
Video chat, facebook friends that live inside my phone,
We’re all in this together and we’re going to see it through,
Emerging even stronger if it’s the the only thing I do!
I’ll use this time to write, exercise and cook,
I’ll search inside my soul while devouring a book,
For once I will be still, not rushing here or there,
I’ll help the vulnerable and always show I care.
My life is very different but different isn’t bad,
Learning to let go of preconceptions that I had,
Holding onto sanity and working hard to find,
Peace within my soul, my body and my mind.
Angela McCrimmon
