Over the last week I have experienced a fever of heightened zealousness around the ‘C’ word…it’s leading to self isolating, social distancing, panic hoarding of groceries and toilet roll, and acts of kindness…this time five years ago our Dishwashing family went into self isolation, we socially distanced ourselves from others and I became mindful of germs… to me they were harmless… to Dishwashing Dad fatal…again it was the Big ‘C’ that was wielding it’s deadly touch…(anyone who loves or lives with chronic illness or a life limiting illness knows daily all these measures).

It has bemused me somewhat and in no way am I undermining the gravity of the situation but I do feel there is a mindful learning to be had at this moment in time…

I can vividly recall the feeling five years ago that life was ‘living around me’ while death was omnipresent in our lives, and it taught me the profound value of the moment, the minute, the hour, the day…

I am truly hoping that we as souls on this earth realise we are here for a brief moment, and our moments should be filled with conversations and connections that are mindful and meaningful.

So as we spend time now in the next few weeks together with our children, our friends our loved ones, drop the gadget (no point washing and sanitising the hands to pick up the germ ridden device), talk, look, really look, smile, and connect..I’m really hoping the social distancing will allow for individual realisation of what really matters…

I believe daily in ‘self isolating’, having my ‘me’ moments of ‘Tracey Time’ as a loved one named it recently..I have been known to ‘socially distance’ myself from situations and people toxic to my wellbeing and all these behaviours have supported my journey of healing..

Kindness…be kind in your buying, and your behaviour because it has repercussions…

I usually end with ‘keep hugging your loved ones’…however for the few weeks ahead hug yourself instead.. you deserve it..

Yesterday as I held my daffodils for Gary’s grave someone very sadly said, ‘it’s cold, no one has anything good to say…it’s’ bad..’ there was a sadness in her voice…I looked at my ‘sunshine, nodding daffs’ and replied, ‘we are here, many would love to be..’ she smiled, I smiled let’s all now be present xox