A road map gives us a guide to the potential direction we can take, yet we can never be sure of what obstacles we meet or detours we make along the way. We might come across a roadblock or traffic accident ahead. Our vehicle may breakdown or run out of fuel.  The journey may even need to be postponed. The road ahead remains uncertain.

Physical maps and atlases have been largely replaced with digital applications on our phones and in our cars. These have the ability to automatically assess the route ahead and offer an alternative to any obstacles. What a comfort it is that our starting point and final destination can be put into these devices before we begin our journey. The rest is worked out by the navigation system along the way.

Our political leaders are now discussing ‘road maps’ forward to reopen our communities after lock down. When the Covid 19 virus emerged in our lives early last year we had little knowledge about what we were dealing with. Fear was a primal emotion. Even from its beginnings, scientists were continually investigating alternate scenarios to handle the challenges and eventually move us beyond the pandemic.

Now eighteen months later we are cautiously heading into that different future. One that consists of new more virulent strains of the virus coupled with strategies such as vaccinations, restrictions and social isolation in lockdowns. This future comes with a level of uncertainty, and perhaps trepidation for each of us moving forward. Yet in reality life has never provided us with certainty, only life experience to draw on.

What strategies are we being called to use?

Adapting to change. As much as we may wish life to be different, and our internal conversation reinforces our opinion, eventually we need to accept the reality of our present situation. We may not agree with or like the government level decisions being made. Individually we can still assess personal strategies to support our own physical, mental and emotional health and well-being. Is it possible to look for the positive reminders and lessons we are learning along the way. Reminders of the importance of connection, nurturance and gratitude.

‘The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new’

Socrates

Adjusting to a changed life – Each of us are called on to consider our decision making and its repercussions. As we leave our homes, remembering to take our phone for QR code check in and a mask for entering premises. Booking ahead for venues where there is smaller capacity limits. Compliance to rules on movement, social distancing and any stay at home orders. Considering what vaccination means to us. Constantly evaluating – What does ‘safe’ look like for me, my loved ones and my community?

Seeking guidance – There has been a large amount of discrepant information to consider. Consistency of messaging is helpful. As we internally process what we hear it may cause discord with our beliefs and challenge our freedoms. None of this processing is easy.

Now that the community, state and national parameters are in place we have more certainty on expectations for now and the near future. Ultimately we individually make our own decisions and action them. Some of us can are coming out of lockdowns earlier than others, particularly in less populated areas. The route forward continues to be rocky and will be littered with obstacles. Each of us will need to tread lightly and be consciously aware of our surroundings. Regularly we see the impact individual decision making can have on whole communities.  

Through the uncertainty we also hold hope for a future worth participating in and contributing to. We are now entering a phase where we are learning to live with Covid 19 long term. Last year without recognized strategies we were faced with the awful fear that we could infect the ones we deeply love. Yet even then there were daily actions we could use to support our well-being.

Those strategies I identified last year still hold true: –

• Establish a sense of normality in the day. On waking imagine how the day will flow? See yourself enjoying breakfast then moving on to the daily tasks you have planned. In the evening, reflect and give thanks for what has unfolded during the day.
• Make time for your physical wellbeing with exercise. Move your body in ways you enjoy.
• Process your emotions when they arise. Allow yourself to express them. Give yourself permission to cry when you feel overwhelmed and sad.
• Incorporate time for learning by reading books and listening to podcasts that uplift, soothe and educate the mind. Limit the time you expose yourself to the media updates. Look for credible sources of information.
• Be creative in ways that you most enjoy – painting, cooking, writing, sewing, gardening etc.
• Listen and move to music you love.
• Spend time in meditation or prayer. This is a wonderful opportunity to establish a regular practice.
• Create a calm, ‘cocoon’ space in your home to retreat to. Even though our bodies may be less active, our energy levels can fluctuate with the concerns and realities we are currently facing. Honour your energy level. Rest when you need to.
• Stay virtually connected with your loved ones. This is particularly important for those living alone. Take the opportunity for deeper conversations around how we are each impacted and what we are learning about life and ourselves at this time.

Individually and collectively we are living in challenging times. The chapter of our life story entitled ‘Living through the Covid 19 Pandemic’ will be an interesting one for us to reflect on and share with future generations. Our daily decisions impact our current quality of life. They also potentially provide us with a deeper understanding of what we cherish in our lives. There is no road map of certainty. We are creating it along the way.