Great thread!

Highlights:

Texts from my reunited son over in the UK. A few years ago he posted a photo of himself age about 6 yrs old. The only photo I have of his childhood. This week I cropped and edited it to focus on his beautiful eyes and plan to have it printed onto canvas.

Fun Things:

We found a lonely tomato plant growing amongst weeds in an abandoned vege garden per the previous occupant of our house.

It had one glorious cherry tomato.

We were thrilled ( I know, we’re a bit daft like that 😉)

We didn’t pick it straight away.

We replanted in a large pot and looked forward to more...standing the pot out on our lawn, under a tree.

Next morning... tomato gone.

I’m still grinning thinking of the wild life opportunist who snagged it over night.

Frustrations:

Argh. Just the weird sense of things not being normal.

Things you can change:

Perhaps my listlessness. To be honest, I’m not doing well. I could probably change that.

My grief and sadness index is way too high. There you go. It’ll pass...

Phoebe wings thanks for your post. I like the story of your tomato.

Grief and loss is hard to cope with. Hope you are taking time to be kind for yourself.

Welcome to all who are reading this thread for the first time.

Hi Quirky & all,

I love this thread as a little space to reflect & share our ups & downs :)

Highlights: I’m grateful for our frontline workers. Technically, that’s not necessarily a “highlight”, but surely gratitude counts?

Frustrations: Sorry, I would like to vent. I hope that’s okay as it’s really bothering me...

I feel frustrated by people who are still congregating/gathering with others or going out for non-essential reasons etc.

My friend recently lost a patient to COVID-19. He is pretty distraught, as he had to make difficult (but necessary) decisions that meant the patient’s family could not say goodbye. The grieving family took it out on my friend, & screamed & yelled at him. He’s a doctor & was only doing his job.

People like my friend don’t get to “turn off” the news. They deal with this during all kinds of very long hours during shift work...he has temporarily moved out of home as he fears that he could unknowingly infect loved ones. So he is literally all by himself after work.

My point is this is serious. It’s not a game. Yet I feel some people still don’t seem to take it seriously. I think it’s sometimes even due to blatant disregard or self serving behaviours.
That upsets me...

Fun: not sure yet

Things I can change: I am learning patience, stillness & letting go.

1 thing that surprised me: the question mark remains

Thank for reading & letting me share my frustrations.

Kindness and care,

Pepper

Peppermint,

Your Empathy and Compassion can be felt from here. Those are wonderful emotions, but they take a toll on us.

Having a heart as beautiful as yours is not easy. I am happy that you shared your feelings with us, for I feel the same feelings as you, in my own ways.

It is a mix of sadness, but it is also a warming feeling, if you let yourself realise that there is a flame inside you, warming and burning, even with all the craziness around us. That means you're a beautiful person, and some people haven't had yet a chance to have these feelings yet. Hopefully, one day they will. Hopefully without having to pay a price too heavy.

Right now, the most important thing we can do is focus on the positive and help others. Everyone needs some time for mourning, even if it is mourning for someone we never knew and only saw once. Let your friend, if you haven't yet, know that you are there if they need you. That comfort is important. It strengthens both and you can be sure, we are here for you too.

Diary

highlights - that I can now make a delicious homemade baked beans

fun things-
frustrations- I have difficulty with doing dishes. I get frustrated with myself that I am like that. The pile of them overwhelms me.

things you can change -

surprised me to day -

That's about it for today

Diary

Shell thanks for your diary entry.

highlights - I bought some needles and wool and am knitting the worlds shortest plainest scarf

fun things-watching parodies on youtube of songs on virus .

frustrations- I have difficulty with my moods
things you can change - I can stop procrastinating, I can have a routine,

surprised me to day - the way we can't have one rule for the whole of Australia instead of each state having different rules.

hanks everyone reading, if you haven't posted have a go .

It can be in any format. One sentence would be fine. I find it will keep a record of how I felt at the time.

Highlights: My parents coming to visit me over the easter break. My mum told me that we were in the same zone (in WA, the government has divided the states into zones and you cant cross into different zones) and I was allowed to have 2 guests - so I didnt have a leg to stand on if I were to mention restrictions haha.

Frustrations: The usual staying indoors. Theres only so much i can do inside haha

Fun: Playing exploding kittens with my partner haha. Also getting into a pure strategy game on the playstation

Things I can change: remembering that this is temporary. Do a little more self care when I feel im getting into a rut.

One thing that surprised me: ?

exploding kittens is a fun game wish i didnt go from loving matt inman to being utterly disgusted by his art style for some reason i cant answer to myself

highlights: finished that big clean of my room today. cleaned the first half of on. thursday or friday i think

frustrations: i had to go through my bookshelf and i hate how i just. fell out of love with books. i had like an entire row and a half on my shelves full of series and series and series i read constantly when i was younger and now i've outgrown them all or they bore me or i don't have the attention span for those long series. i even have it in my notes app all the books i keep wanting to read and even if i have all the time in the world it feels easier just to stare at my screen until oh christ its eleven now time for bed

fun: on today's walk my dog who usually needs to be lifted over this grate bridging the path across a creek jumped across. i thought she was too old to be that agile huh!

things i can change: remembering to eat food. or at least not grabbing junk when i realise im hungry. im bad at reading my body's signals like that

one thing that surprised me: finding a bag full of freshly-bought shirts shirts that didn't fit me and finding their receipt that dates back to... 18/06/2018

Eight, gambit, Shell, wandering around, Pepper and everyone reading anyone I missed,

Thanks for sharing your day and thoughts. It helps me.

highlights: Today I sat in the sun and just sat. I am grateful I have a lovley verandah overlooking a small garden.

frustrations: I seem to be tired and irritable

fun: sitting in the sun

things I can change: I can try to do more housework and make an effort.

What surprised me? the way people interpret isolation very differently.

Hi Quirky & all,

Wandering Around: wow, thank you so very much. Your words were completely unexpected, but so very much appreciated. It really moved me, & I was a little speechless for a bit...but in a nice way :)

Thank you for taking (making) time out of your day, & amidst whatever personal troubles you’re going through, to write to me.

Your time, empathy & thoughtfulness means a lot...

My friend did his best & followed hospital protocol, but yes, it will take time for him to process & grieve in his own way. Thank you for the gentle reminder to support him...

It does make me wonder about the psychological toll that these kinds of things take on hospital staff...it can’t be easy...

A warm thank you for being here for me, as well as others :)

Highlights: feeling supported & cared for.

Frustrations: (laughs) the usual...

Fun: I will be either reading or making art later tonight.

One thing I can change: again, I’m still working on patience & letting go.

One thing that surprised me: the unexpected kindness of a stranger’s post. Thank you Wandering Around :)

Kindness and care,

Pepper

Pepper, your friend the doctor did not deserve the anger from the family but I do know grief is a powerful emotion and people sometimes have no idea how to cope.

So they las h out on the person who has been helping them. I think they will later reflect and may apologise. I have said things and done things when grieving that I am not proud of.

I am in no way condoning their behaviour, your friend is a hero and he has feelings too and is working above and beyond what is expected. I do hope some of his patients thank him and that he feels appreciated.

Thanks for sharing this personal experience. It reminds me we must thank people more and complain less.

Hey Quirky

Thankyou for the excellent thread topic!

Just for myself I am keeping a 'video journal' on whats been happening with self isolation as well as 'News Clips' for my grand children....This period of time will be in the history books for many decades to come

Paul

hello everyone,

Video diary is a great idea if you are skilled. I have trouble taking a photo and find it hard to do a video chat on whats app.

Even doing an audio would challenge me. I think if you can its a great idea.

highlights: woke up well-rested and hey, if that aint the dream

frustrations: mum keeps being upset at me because i'm not eating and im less concerned at all my bad hunger pangs and more she seems so helpless and "i don't know what you want from me" im trying!! i dont want to hurt you!!! god

fun: beachie has done the Grate Jump again. whipped her head around panting away and her eyes were shining like "did you see what i did" old dogs cant learn new tricks except One

one thing i can change: like, going to bed at reasonable times. suddenly i keep staying up at ungodly hours and theres nowhere to go and nobody can stop me until im too sleeby to do anything in the day

one thing that surprised me: keyboards have so much crap in them. i was sanitizing and cleaning my keyboard and i was getting all the underkey grout and there was So Much and i wasnt even using rubbing alcohol or an air duster just the adhesive part of a post-it to collect all of it and giving it some good taps to dislodge stuff before hoovering it up with this little handheld vacuum cleaner. reader, when was the last time you cleaned that keyboard of yours?

Hi Quirky & all,

Quirky: thank you for hosting this fantastic thread. I love coming here to read & reflect.

Yes, I completely agree with you. You’re right about grief. It can bring out all kinds of raw emotions...

Neither my friend nor his colleagues blame the grieving family. Emotions have been so high, & he knows it’s especially hard for the family, as they could not be in the same room as the patient. He knows that must have been really traumatic/heartbreaking for them, so he understands...

I think his sadness has more to do with the loss itself & feeling overwhelmed. I suspect also feelings of helplessness, which must be particularly hard for doctors...it’s a lot of pressure

Thanks so much for taking (making) time for me. You’re such a warm & consistent presence on the forums, especially when I know you’ve been through so much with the wildfires first & now this...a hug to you (only if you like hugs) xoxo

Highlights: the kindness of the people on these forums :)

Fun: ?

Frustrations: the usual...I miss seeing my family/friends in person, but I understand & agree that virtual is the way to go during this pandemic.

Also, I find WFH (work from home) really hard. I’m about 1/2 in the office & 1/2 at home, because I can’t 100% work from home due to the nature of my work. I understand why WFH needs to happen partially, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy.

My normal routine is in shambles...

1 thing I’m working on: same, same...patience is not one of my virtues, forgiveness & letting go.

1 thing that surprised me: how much I would struggle with being in relative social isolation

kindness and care,

Pepper

Thanks to everyone sharing their days and reflections.

Please feel free to do your own headings, or no headings at all. whatever suits you to share your thoughts.

Eight thanks for taking time to share your thoughts.

oh dear, my keyboards are a mess to but am scared I will ruin them by trying to clean them!! I banned my self from eating and drinking at computer.

Pepper Thanks for your kind words and your daily reflection here are appreciated. AS you know so many read them but never post and you are helping them. WFH is a new one for me!!

Surprised me I never knew I would miss the routine of having my shop 7 days. I didn't make much money but it defined who I was. I probably am repeating myself. If I hadn't lost my shop in the fires, I think I would have coped with few sales as I loved being in my shop.

Frustrations I know many people on this forum and those reading have also had illness grief and trauma before the virus and they are now suffering with both.

Highlight a lovely lady in a shop yesterday chatted to me an was very kind and understanding.

Changes not sure I have the energy to keep on changing myself but I still do.

Maybe I should drop the Fun and add a Trying hard!!

yeah you hit All the keys when you're doing it so you should unplug your keyboard or turn it off/remove the batteries if its wireless. mine wasnt even too thorough like as i said you usually use air dusters or rubbing alcohol but i dont have too much of that so it was just wiping it down and running post it notes through the grooves, sometimes you gotta give it a few hard taps to dislodge - i cant tell where all the hair and dust and indistinct dirt came from but honestly would i even want to know

highlights: finished a little project i'd been doing. its insignificant and probably would not be very interesting or understandable to yall but it was a Project and it is finished and i learnt a few things when was finally done with it

frustrations: my brother tries to cheer me up but i feel like such a downer. i went to bed early because my pains too much tonight and im sitting in the sheets huddling my plushie in the dark and he comes in singing shrilly about i dont even remember and i had to repeat twice very firmly dude. i don't feel like it because that voice felt like it was driving a splinter in my brain and i didnt want an overload too. im sorry broe i just got sensory issues i always feel like im ruining his fun when i say please cut it and leave me alone

fun: watching a playthrough of to the moon. i know i could just haul myself to my desktop and boot up steam bc i have it but it felt too much for me i don't know. the story unlocks secret autistic emotions for me it always does and i forget how to feel them in the next few days after. current thoughts that have been sticking with me is that i want all the characters talking about how the platypus is a bad animal to take it back now

things i can change(d): had some Meals. didnt seem to stop the pains or maybe theyre just not as good Meals as i thought

one thing that surprised me: its nearly been a month since i started isolating. mama tells me she doesn't understand how i'm still so okay. i got an email from my school saying "we're not planning anything yet abt reopening our school calm down about the news" but mum won't stop buzzing about it

Hi All,

I feel a bit down today, need to get it out of my chest.

Yesterday, I had to go to CBD as I'm a plasma donor and Red Cross called me asking for help. It's over a month I last went to the CBD, I actually work there, but I began working from home a couple weeks before the whole thing got so serious. It was strange. It felt a lot less crowded, but yet, I felt it was too many people walking around. I usually take a bus to the CBD, this time I walked. On the path, some places were really crowded. I feel a mix of confusion and anger trying to surface as the other side keeps trying to remind me that people are trying their best, and maybe, this is as much as they can bear to do. I have to hang on that, and keep at a safe distance. It's annoying because I feel like many people are making no effort to keep a safe distance. I dodge and swerve but I don't feel the same concern or appreciation. I'm maybe too sensitive right now. Maybe I am projecting my own contradiction of being outside when I should be doing my part being home.

These negative feelings wear me down. I feel people are not appreciating all the hard work around. But I have to believe people are doing their best, and repeat it over and over.

Anyway, the donor centre was full, I actually had to wait quite a bit before being able to start. Those people are amazing. The world is so crazy, and seeing not only the volunteers but the donors is cool. They were training new volunteers, the prep was done by a trainee. I could see the trainee was still a bit confused, I tried to encourage and ease the tension a bit, I hope it helped and didn't sound condescending...

Walking back the streets had less people, maybe it was just the lunch time movement?

Just by writing this I feel a little better already. So that was my (yester)day.

Great thread Quirky.

Highlight. I realised I can remove or reduce my pain if I take pain relief. Obvious? Well yes but this sort of stuff makes me weird and today I felt better without the weirdness.

Frustration. I do not have enough energy to do all the bits and pieces I want to do. I get tired easily.

One thing I can change. I can get my pain under control. I can also start doing things a bit at a time instead of wanting to finish the whole lot in one go.

Isolation has not been too bad for me. I have my embroidery to do and there are interesting documentaries on TV. I want to do some scrapbooking and make each of my grandchildren a scrapbook. Plus I have about two lifetimes worth of sewing projects. I guess this one of the my frustrations that I cannot get to do everything at once.

Cheers Quirky

Mary

Hi Quirky & all:

Quirky: Thank you for your very encouraging words to me. I’m so glad you created this space for us in this thread :)

Wandering Around: I know you’re probably not expecting a reply & you weren’t writing to me...

But I just wanted to say that I think you’re doing a beautiful thing to donate plasma to the Red Cross. I vaguely remember reading how they’re experiencing a shortage of donations, presumably because most of us are staying home. So what you’re doing is really generous & needed...

I can empathise with your frustrations towards people not complying with social/physical distancing advice though. I hope writing out some of your thoughts, feelings & frustrations here had the soothing effect that you wanted :)

Today:

Highlights: I have a job, roof over my head, food & clean water.

Fun: ?

Frustrations: Even though I understand & agree with social/self isolation advice, & yes, I’m following it, it’s really difficult for me mentally.

I feel increasingly claustrophobic as time passes, & I miss my friends & family. But I’m grateful for technology to keep in touch, as that’s all we have now...

One thing I can change: I wish that I coped better with social isolation, but I’m finding it really hard...even my own home is starting to become aversive to me...

One thing that surprised me: ?

Kindness and care to all,

Pepper

hello everyone,

White Rose

Thanks for telling us about your day.

have so many times discovered the obvious and wondered why it took me so long.

Thanks for explaining how the isolation affects you, I am glad you have many projects you can do. I had so many boxes full to make scrapbooks from, and lots of bits and pieces for collages, but that has gone and this is now. I have started knitting again.

WanderingAround what a compassionate soul you are . I am glad writing here helped. Please feel free to post anytime you want to, it is great to read tohougts of how people cope day by day.

Pepper how about we scrap fun and you add your own title.

Quirky, I love how you always have something positive to say to everyone. Despite my best intentions yesterday was not good. However .....

Highlight. Today I feel much better, more energy and eating without nausea. Who said life was stressful?

Fun. My current cross stitch project. It's another lady in the bath to complement my picture here. Half done.

Frustrations. Lost my email access and need to go online to read and reply. Not my idea easy reading. Frustrated when I remember I cannot just go and visit people or go shopping. I order my groceries online which are delivered. At least I am at home to receive them.

One thing I can change. Remember that I have got through bad times before and I can do it again. Takes a bit of effort though.

One thing that surprised me. That at last I have mastered getting and reading my emails online.

Pepper, I can relate to that shut in feeling. I can go for a walk but it's never been a favourite occupation. My daughter visited me and cleaned up my patio so that I felt comfortable sitting out there when it gets warm there. My daughter is the only one I have physical contact with as she drops in to check up on me. Other children talk by Zoom/FB etc and I can chat with grandchildren, so all good.

I think one of the frustrations to staying at home is not knowing how long it will last. It seems it will be several months at least and giving an end date is not really possible. We all know it's easier when we know how long but this is very different. Pepper, keep your chin up and remember it will pass. Gosh that sounds trite so I hope you know I mean it from the heart.

Please keep safe everyone.

Mary

Hello everyone!

Great thread idea :)

It's only 2pm but here goes...

Highlights: waking up next to my partner, having an indulgent morning routine,
Frustrations: bad weather, injured shoulder limiting my movement, overate at lunch
Fun: cooked a yummy lunch for the family, shot a 20 second video of me dancing for my friend's b'day :)
1 thing I can change: not getting consumed by technology
1 thing that surprised me: how a person I've just met has been so generous with their time/guidance

Nico

Hi All,

Peppermintbach, thanks! It did soothe it and your words helped as well. Putting my thoughts in words is such a great exercise for me. It forces me into materialising what I am feeling or thinking. It also helps me reflect on them and understand if what I wrote is really what I mean or makes any sense at all (also it helps me practice English, I'm not a native English speaker).

Highlights: I helped someone from my team to understand that helping someone is way more important than following procedures. It's not as simple as that, as I don't want people to ignore rules in my team, but they need to understand that more than following rules, we need to ensure we're doing the right thing.
Frustrations: My partner went back to work today from mandatory annual leave. While we are happy my partner still got a job and a paycheck, it needed commute. It would be so much better if it was possible to work from home. Still, this is not really a big frustration, considering how hard things are.

Fun: I found out my headset blocks low volume music. I like listening to classical music while working (who can explain it?) so today I was able to listen to music the whole day (also, it was not possible to do that with my partner home).

One thing that surprised me: How much, everyday, I come to look for time to be present in this forum.

And trying to bring a little fun, I challenge the next person to name their favourite colour.

Hello everyone

Nico, thanks for sharing your day and hpe you will again when you want to.

video of dancing how joyful. It is interesting that many people are turning to home made cooking.

I am glad you have met someone to guide you.

Mary .Thanks for reminding us we have got through bad times before and will again. You have shown how strong and resilient you are so do not doubt yourself.

WanderingAround, I enjoy reading your daily post, it has calmness and wisdom. I enjoy coming on the fourm and reading what others are thinking.

one thing from today I tried to avoid conflict but wonder if there is a price. People then see you as not being loyal but being angry with others never achieves much.

Hi Quirky & all:

I hope it’s okay if I first address the people who mentioned me :)

Mary: Thank you so much, your post moved me. It sounds like it has been hard for you too.

I’m glad your daughter can still visit, & that you’re keeping in touch with your other loved ones via technology.

Thanks again for your strength & gentle encouragement. It’s appreciated :)

Wandering Around: I’m glad putting your feelings/thoughts in writing helps you.

I think you express yourself beautifully here.

Quirky (& a wave to Nico & all): thanks for giving us the freedom to play with the titles. You’re very generous.

Today:

Highlights: I know this must be so repetitive but I’m grateful for my job

Frustrations: the usual...

Opportunities: I have been thinking that I need a strategy or plan moving forward...I’m really struggling with social isolation (I think that much is obvious laughs)...

But I read something online recently, which suggested that searching for some form of personal meaning (or at least something meaningful) can help us during the pandemic, as opposed to just filling our time with a haphazard assortment of activities & distractions (just for the sake of filling time).

The question remains: how can I find meaning, as opposed to distractions, during the pandemic?

Right now, I don’t know, but hopefully it will come to me...

Kindness and care,

Pepper

I have been busy & struggling with motivation. The restrictions mean I can't get some of the support I could normally. This means I'm not able to post very regularly. I need to balance time posting with other demands but I will share yesterdays experiences.

Highlights: See opportunities
Frustrations: husband's coughing fit while he still tried to keep eating. He said later he was hoping the next spoonfull would push the other food down and stop the choking!!! I removed food and expressed my frustration with his behaviour. Covid 19 makes these incidents more scary as we can no longer get face to face visits with GP to check his chest & his specialists have told me to manage him at home rather than go to hospital because he won't get the right treatment ATM.
Opportunities: Yesterday I received a call from the office of our local federal politician asking if we were OK and what we needed. After getting over my surprise I decided to use this to express my concerns re response to Covid 19. She thanked me and said she agreed with my concerns and would forward it to the politician to consider and she was getting someone to get back to me re aspects that directly impacted us. I hope this leads to the government thinking of the big picture.

What an I change I need to ensure I prioritise walks

Elizabeth thanks for your post. The virus has affected your life so much and you have a lot to cope with.

I hope the politician will really listen to you and people who have real concerns like you.

Pepper I like opportunities as a heading. The way you go threw your thought process else

me think about opportunities. I find when people say to see a meaning in something bad I have experienced, I find that really hard because it feels to painful to even try. I suppose it takes time.

Everyone is encouraged to join in, no guidelines just express what is happening today or recently for you. Have a whinge a rant or just list what is happening.

Hello all!

I just found out about this thread and it sounds like something I need to do.

Highlights: Feeling the warmth of the sun as I sit by the window
Frustrations: Going through yet another dull workday routine
Fun: I read a chapter of a novel this morning
One thing I can change: I should be better at managing time (especially the essential work), instead of procrastinating
One thing that surprised me: I didn't expect this, but I actually feel a bit more motivated to start the day proper now that I've written this down.

Cheers,
Emmen

Hello Everyone

Many thanks for all the great posts (especially the replies to me).

WanderingAround It's amazing how different our thoughts become when we write them down. This is one of the reasons for keeping a journal because we need to make fairly concrete statements rather than a bathe in an indeterminate emotion. Keeping a journal is also good for reflection. I usually say to those who keep a journal, don't reread your entries for at least a month, preferably longer. It's very often surprising to see how far we have come since we first started writing. I know I have read my old entries and can only be amazed at how much has happened and how much I have changed. It's a good self-checking mechanism.

I also like listening to classical music. As soon as I get up I put the radio on and listen to ABC Classic Breakfast. I love the presenters and am in awe of their musical knowledge.

Pepper Thanks for your comments. I suppose it would be good for all of us to find some meaning in our lives regardless of the present circumstances or any other circumstances. One of the worst parts of illnesses such as depression is being unable to find a meaning in life. Of course there is no motivation when we are depressed which makes it all the more essential to fins meaning.

Not sure exactly what constitutes meaning and I suspect it is different for everyone. Maybe it's growing the best roses or growing enough vegetables and fruit to feed our families. Perhaps having a couple of neighbours who need shopping done for them. I think it's something outside ourselves that gives us pleasure inside. Maybe it's knowing that the (paid) work we do is helping people in the community. Perhaps being part of a community such as church or a volunteer organisation. Interested in your thoughts.

Today's frustrations. Trying to get an answer from Microsoft and Optus why I cannot access my emails. Aargh.

Highlights. Eating a bar of marzipan, otherwise know as almond paste which gets put on Christmas cakes. Mmmm.

Today's learning? Getting out in the sunshine helps fight the miseries.

Keep safe everyone.

Mary