Smiling, happy people......

Hello gorgeous ones!

It’s Sunday….and it’s no different to the past Sunday’s of not going very far at all.

Most of us have forgotten what it’s like to be excited about something. Anything. Most of us have had not a lot to look forward to…and that’s getting a little frustrating.

Who would have thought that the year 2020 would be so…….wasted? Weird? Sad? Eventful? Uneventful?

Weddings have been cancelled, funerals have been live-streamed, birthday celebrations wiped out, parents home schooling, jobs lost, businesses closed, curfews! What the????

For our family, the past 18 or so Winters have been weekends full of sport. Weekends full of not only our kids, but weekends seeing people, talking to people, catching up with other parents, our kids friends and their parents.

March through to September meant whole weekends filled with netball or soccer or basketball, coming home to slow cooked meals, hot showers and early nights. Well, we weren’t always that organised….sometimes it was toasted sandwiches and a can of soup. Indications of a busy family. Not this winter.

This winter has been tough, buts it has taught us so much. It’s taught us to be resilient, to work together as a community, to help each other, to help those less fortunate, to value those we love and those we are yet to meet. It’s taught me the importance of relationships, of friendships.

It’s taught us to be thankful for the smallest of things. A good coffee, a walk around the lake, a chat with a friend.

It has been a forced lesson in slowing down. And I’ve kind of liked that part.

I’ve reconnected with one of my most valued friend’s and we catch up for a coffee and walk together every Tuesday. Prior to this, both of us were always busy. She is missing her girls ( I’m missing her girls!) but our catch ups are hopefully filling in a tiny part of that huge gap in her life at the moment and I’m loving it. We talk so much, we sometimes forget to stop our walk! That is something that I hope won’t change as we get back to some sort of normality.

I’m grateful for things I have previously taken for granted. My job, my colleagues, my small house with a small mortgage, my community, my family. Getting dressed up, putting on makeup. LIPSTICK! I miss wearing lipstick!

I’ve become more organised at home, despite being packed to the rafters and no longer sweat the small stuff.

So many businesses have suffered and livelihoods are at breaking point for so many people. We have been fortunate enough to keep our jobs and keep our business running and for that, I am thankful. So many others have not been as lucky.

So, as the weather changes, hopefully so do our circumstances. We need to be able to look forward with optimism and enthusiasm. I am optimistically and enthusiastically counting down the days until I can spend a weekend with my sister, shop till we drop and finish our day with some great food, wine, stupid conversation and some terrible singing. We are great at all that! I miss her…..and messages or phone calls just make me miss her more. Not being able to see her has made me realise just how important she is in my life. It’s made me see that we need each other more than we realised, and I’ll be making sure I make more time for her, whether she likes it or not!!

I also can’t wait to have a weekend away with hubby, exploring another town or city. Having a nice dinner out, reconnecting by ourselves. Wearing lipstick…… Forgotten what that’s like!

I have certainly learnt so much about myself during this time.

And you know one of my biggest lessons? I’ve learnt the power of a smile just isn’t quite the same with a mask on. I miss smiling at people and seeing them smile back. I tend to wave a lot to acknowledge someone….even if I’m right next to them!!

Never again, will I take smiling for granted. When we can finally get rid of the masks, I’m going to be grinning at everyone! You will all think I’m crazy, but that’s ok! I’m going to be smiley crazy!

I won’t even care if I know you or not…….I’ll smile at strangers!

What have you learnt about yourself? Has this pandemic changed what you place value on?

Bring on Summer 2020. :)

Love to you all,

Cherie with a C.