The Covid Years, huh. What a palava!

It already feels like a lifetime ago. It changed us quite a bit, I think. Or at least it was a big factor in all the changes that were already happening. Changes that have affected us as individuals and as society.

It feels that good things like - “democracy”, “peaceful co-existence”, “confidence about the future”, “our faith in authority”, and simple “kindness” - have all taken a hit to some extent.

Perhaps they have, or perhaps it’s just those blasted algorithms.

I’m of the opinion, as you may have become aware, that it is truly pointless, in fact harmful, to spend my time worrying about things that I can’t control. Perhaps the most important action we can all take is to take care of our own perspective on it all. Because worry leads to fear. And fear leads to all sorts of bad behaviour and outcomes. Things we hear a lot about even if we try and avoid hearing them.

Personal mental self care, is the biggest gift of kindness we can give, not only to ourselves, but to the people we love. And to the planet. The best antidote to terror.

For me meditation, mindfulness, being in the moment, accepting This right now - whatever you might like to call it - that’s been the biggest game changer.

But honestly, whatever works for you.

In the early days of the Covid Years I wrote Clean Hands (And A Little Bit Of Space). Which was me trying to grapple with all the confusion back then. Some lines look odd now. But hey, none of us plebs knew anything really, and the people who did genuinely know something were learning as they went.

I’m reasonably happy with my imperfect observations back then though. They’re not too off the mark.

Also, I miss Robert.