What is going on at the moment, and how do we deal with all the changes? In this blog, someone from the Flow team shares how she is dealing with the current situation: both on a practical level and in her head. This time: Irene feels calmer now that there’s less she can do.
Taking stock of this past period, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s actually doing me good having fewer choices to make at the moment, and – even though there will probably be a day when I miss it again – right now, it feels really good, too. Because thanks to this lack, all those voices in my head that tell me I have to go to the gym, have to book a vacation, can’t miss that particular movie, have to make a dinner date with X and – above all – simply must go visit my mother again are all quiet.
In fact, I don’t HAVE to do anything in this current time; it’s actually better if I DON’T do anything. Just stay at home and don’t make any plans. And I don’t mind admitting to you that this very simple way of life suits me. Gradually the stress and anxiety I felt during the early days of this whole situation, the sadness and worry of the weeks that followed, and the I’ll-pour-myself-into-my-work-then-feel-good-approach have all been replaced by something else in recent weeks. There is a silence within me. Now that everything has been put in its place, a space has been created for other things…
For being, instead of doing.
For listening, instead of talking.
For resting, instead of rushing.
This is a time between what was, what is and what will be. It is meantime. And that’s enough.
Text Irene Smit; Translation Julia Gorodecky; Photography Ostap Senyuk / Unsplash.com
