Here we are again.
Another week.
Very little has changed, I surmise, in your life. Nor in mine. There is some news this week from government about when we might all be allowed out, but for now, restrictions remain largely in place.
I thank God every day for the vaccination programme, described by some scientists as being nothing short of miraculous. For my own money, I agree. The route back to normal life lies in this direction, and we owe so much to all involved in the development, production, delivery and distribution of the vaccine. A friend recently put in a grueling and cold 13 hour stint vaccinating folk at a football stadium.
Hoorah and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
But whilst the vaccination programme continues apace, life continues in a very much reduced and diminished way.
For many of us, life continues to be incredibly busy, demanding and mentally and emotionally tiring as we endeavour to keep all the plates spinning. In contrast, for others of us, life is repetitive and monotonous and robbed of normal activities in a dangerously emotionally-depleting way.
How much more then do we need small distractions that bring us both joy and fun.
Musing here in recent weeks about the importance of finding small ways to have fun, and finding joy in little things, I am aware more than ever this week of the important connections to be made from seemingly small things. Things that BC – Before Corona – we would neither likely have noticed nor acknowledged. I wrote about the power of connection here, nearly a year ago….how much more important are these themes now.
Enter the Podcast.
I spoke last week about my love of radio. One of the wonders of modern technology is the advent of the Podcast – for me, the joy is in the ability to listen to a wide range of stimulating, engaging and funny radio programmes at a time and place of my choosing. No longer constrained to the radio schedule, I can savour the delights of The Kitchen Cabinet (Radio 4 food programme for food obsessives like me) whilst sanding woodwork. Or I can have my sense of balance reset by Emily P Freeman in The Next Right Thing as I take my regular walk along the river. More inspiration from her in my musings of walking through the dark here.
A recent discovery has been “Fortunately…” with Fi Glover and Jane Garvey. It is very Radio 4, and as such might not appeal to all. But for me, being of a similar age to the presenters, it provides a wonderful connection as I listen to them blether about subjects from the sublime to the ridiculous. I have stood in the queue for the supermarket sniggering out loud to their funny and engaging nonsense chat, bringing bemusement to my fellow queue-ers.
A podcast brings a wonderful sense of connection to the lives of others.
We are reminded that we are not alone. Listening to others share stories, analysis, conversation and commentary on subjects dear to our hearts enables us to lift our heads above the parapets of our own lives and fears and gain a broader view. We hear someone else talk about a profound and raw experience that we connect with but have never vocalised. Or someone expresses a ludicrously trivial story that we share but we might ourselves have feared to articulate for being seen as too inconsequential. And our souls expand.
Someone else feels what I feel. What a relief.
I am not alone, and my emotions are validated by being shared by others. How I then choose to respond is up to me, but that simple knowledge that I am not alone in having these feelings brings relief and a less narrow and fear-inducing perspective.
This comment was made on “Fortunately…” the other week by one of the presenters:
That is the stage of lockdown we have got, where I wake up and I’m anticipating that first brew in a way that I don’t think is entirely healthy. But if it gives you a mindful moment there is nothing wrong with that – we all need to cling on to those little perfect moments when you have got something that goes right in your life and if that is making a mug of tea first thing in the morning, then let that be the case.”
This resonated very deeply with me.
Noticing and celebrating the small pleasures is one of the few things we may have left in our current lives. This is something we CAN do.
It does feel like we have reached to the very bottom of the barrel in terms of what we have to enjoy and appreciate, but perhaps there is the power in this. More on that next week, but this week I encourage you to explore the world of the podcast – for simple escapism, for a good story, and for the joy of connection.