Life after lockdown promises

This week I found out about the death of another dear friend of mine who was a mentor, an inspiration and a vision of how to live a full, meaningful and purposeful life. It got me thinking about how I will honour their memory.

Never again will I take for granted my freedom to go where I please. To walk into a shop and browse, to sit on a bench in town and people watch, to get on an aeroplane and explore a hidden corner of the world or to go round to a friend’s house for a natter.

Never again will I take for granted a hug, kiss or handshake.

I will say “yes” to more invitations to things: opportunities to catch up, go out, get together, get dressed up. Never will I complain that my feet hurt me at the end of a great night of dancing.

I will *try* not to look like I would rather be at home when the kids want another 10 minutes at the park, get invited to a classmate’s birthday party, queue for a ridiculously long time at a theme park for a ride or want to get their faces painted or roll down a hill.

I will always opt to run outside rather than indoors on a treadmill.

I will take the time to chit chat more to people I don’t know. Knowing that these random conversations are often the thing I write about in my gratitude journal at the end of the day.

I will try and embrace the energy of crowds in London streets, on the tube, in a concert hall, at a gig. Remembering the time when we had to stay two metres apart from each other for fear of contamination.

I will actively look to make friends with people older than me. COVID has meant I have lost a few people that I considered mentors. I was drawn to their charisma, life experience and insight into how to live a good life.

The times I notice myself wanting to retreat, I will come back to these lockdown months and remember my yearning and longing for a return to some sort of normality. I will remember the people I did not get to spend precious time with and remember how devastating the isolation was for so many. We are social creatures, we need contact, touch and connection.

What post lockdown plans are you making?