This lockdown is forcing a reset for the planet.

[XingMing]

Where we are, it's rural, beautiful and in fine weather (after six months of rain) this lockdown seems like an opportunity rather than a penance. It's spring, we are gardening. The air is fresher, the sky is clearer, emissions are down across the planet. It's not exciting, but it is an interlude to enjoy family life before DS leaves home for university and starting his career. It's a very special time and I shall treasure the memory of this month. Am I alone in making the most of the moment? (We have aged parents to worry about too but as they are well into their 80s, I know they are not bothered about getting the telegram from the Palace.)

I live in a tiny flat in a busy urban area, I'm working from home all day and I have no garden to enjoy during this "great opportunity", especially when the weather is so lovely. But I am one of the lucky ones, in that so far I have a job still.

I understand. I have adult children who I won't see for months. I have a parent who is very unwell and I probably won't see them again. I have a medical issue for which the treatment is now on the back burner. I've been unwell with a flu type virus and have been self isolating. But what I've learned is to live in the moment. Enjoy the sun when it's out. Appreciate a nice phone call. I get it OP.

Nope, once this is all done and dusted... people will fall into all the old habits. Not a thing will change.

@BovaryX

Yes. Appreciate the little things. Global trade, global tourism has ground to a halt. It must take a certain kind of bovine insularity to celebrate the cessation of global economic activity as a positive. I guess this is the result of being entirely dislocated from the concept that industry is bankrolling the entire house of cards.

This. The OP's attitude is breathtakingly self-absorbed, ignorant, thoughtless, and VERY much lacking in empathy. 'oooooh look at all the fluffy bumble bees and the chirpy iccle birds, and how wonderful it is that I can hear the brook babbling!' Basking in the ambience whilst half the country is on its knees.

I agree with @AtrociousCircumstance @Cherrysoup @Maladymaker @Silvercatowner and @BaileysforBreakfast and @agonyauntie20 amongst many others - Why you decided to start this ghastly thread @XingMing I have no idea. It's shameful. Truly shameful.

And as for this comment of yours from 21.37...

How does an extra 400 in a month alter that statistical ratio by more than a tiny amount?

I agree with the previous 3 or posters. That comment is disgusting.

Please ask for this thread to be deleted. It's very thoughtless and callous.

I get it too. Finding positives in the midst of horror is hardly a crime. Finding pleasure in small things is keeping me sane.

I live right next to the M4. I loved being in the garden and not hearing the traffic today!

It is hard, it's an enormous gut wrenching worry, finances are dire.

However, we have agreed as a family that we have to make the best of it, we have to monitor our mental health and one way of doing that (for me anyway) is to try to ignore the anxiety and fear, but to practice gratitude for what I do have in the here and now.

I don't think about us having to sell the Bowie when all of this is over - I am grateful that we're here now. It takes masses of willpower and does feel a bit like mental snakes and ladders.

There's nothing wrong with finding positives in a time like this - MN is full of competitive misery at the moment!

Taking time out to exercise and relax and enjoy the sunshine is not a bad thing. Spending months on end feeling angry and anxious won't help anyone.

OP you wont really find many on here that are willing to see that there are some positives as a result of this pandemic. I completely understand that people are dying and people are scared but why are we only talking about the 4.5% that have died and not the 25% that have fully recovered. Why are we not talking a out the massive reduction in nitrous oxide over the worlds most populated cities, or the smog clearing, or that canals of Venice becoming so clear that you can see the wildlife, people in cities being able to see the stars, the air we breath is cleaner, the bees are back, you can actually hear the birds, people are reconnecting with each other by actually talking without the distraction of a restaurant or pub, we are enjoying nature more and getting healthy without the need of a gym, the reduction in violent crime in the UK. Life has changed and the planet as changed. Yes its unfortunate that people have died and my heart really goes out to them but I do also see the positive impact. A friend said, do not look at it as living in isolation, look at it as living in solitude, there is a huge difference, we can learn so much about ourselves if only we choose to.

I do get it.
But, I know the wave is looming. I feel for all the HCP, supermarket staff, delivery drivers and all the people enabling me and hopefully most of us to live in my house with electricity, water and regular bin collections. The people stuck in difficult or abusive domestic situations. The people facing financial ruin.
But there is still beauty in birdsong.
I do get it.

@XingMing

11,000 people die every week in the UK from natural and unnatural causes. How does an extra 400 in a month alter that statistical ratio by more than a tiny amount? Crashing the economy is a much bigger event, but I am not Boris Johnson, and I didn't get you laid off either

We are doing our best to keep our 69yo mum home and stocked up so she doesn't become one of your statistics. Losing her would devastate our family, she is the glue that binds our family together.

And over 4,500 have died in Italy, this could get a lot worse before it gets better.

I do get the fear of financial meltdown Cheerbear. We are spending the accumulated profit from 25 years trading which would have been our retirement money pot in two years to keep our team employed.

Can you not claim 80% of their wages back from the government?

@adaline

MN is full of competitive misery at the moment!.

Oh you really think so?!!!

I fucking wonder why! Hmmmmmmmmmm, let me THINK!

Seriously, just when you think the posts on this site can't get anymore batshit! [

No. I'm a civil servant key worker. Never worked so hard and it's not letting up. Kids are being ignored (dd1, 13, told me it's for the 'greater good' bless her). Can't visit my elderly very frail parents who are miles away. Personally, I'm finding it a bit shit. I have a nice garden bit I'm too busy to be in it.

The government has told us all to stay at home so good for the OP if she is enjoying her time at home!!!! Why are people trying to make her feel guilty?

People were dying all over the world before coronovirus and will after its gone, OP enjoying time with her family doesnt change that does it!

YANBU OP. I understand its an awful time all over the world and i am truly grateful that it isnt effecting us yet

I have had a lovely time so far with my 3 and 5 year old. I was only thinking a few weeks ago i wished id enjoyed it more when they were both at home, i am truly enjoying our time spent in the garden reading and painting and why shouldn't I?

Good for anyone who is making the most out of an awful situation

The whole post stinks of privilege, I am sure there are many who would love to be in the countryside gardening. Sadly, many people are working 18 hour days in horrific conditions, others stressing as they have no work, others lying on a hospital bed fighting for their life!

Whilst you muse about how this is a blessing...maybe spare a thought, that others may have preferred this not to happen...

Shame on you OP, shame on you.

YANBU - We are usually so busy - I juggle three different jobs and spend most of my spare time taxiing children around but I've just been furloughed from one job, can't do another (tourism related) and both DH and I are appreciating being forced to slow down despite the money worries. Another positive for us is that DD has been struggling at school with bullying and friendship problems and it's affecting her mental health - she now has a break from it for the first time in months. It's making us reflect on our lives.

I realise that others are having a more difficult time than we are but that doesn't stop me trying to spot the positive things in life - something I always try to do whatever is going on in the world. I also live in a rural area which is often crammed with visitors. The peace and quiet is lovely,

My dad and my step dad work for the NHS, we speak reguarlly and neither of them have made me feel guilty about staying home and enjoying ourselves, both are just glad we are all safe and happy in the middle of all this misery 🤷‍♀️

Shame on you?

For godssake. Yes OP comes across as privileged but making her miserable isn't going to help the less fortunate.

Ridiculous lack of logic.

This week is the calm before the storm. Let's take our pleasures now where we can.

Global trade, global tourism has ground to a halt. It must take a certain kind of bovine insularity to celebrate the cessation of global economic activity as a positive

If the people telling the OP off know how to improve the situation, why don't you go do it instead of making people feel guilty for small pleasures.

And frankly at the moment one of the worst effects of this crisis are the levels of anxiety people are feeling. I think the OP's post is part of helping people not to stress so much.

I see what you mean OP but it's more of a temporary break than a reset. And people aren't thinking these changes are great, they are thinking they are crap.

After this is over people will be desperate to get back to how things were, governments will be pumping money in to polluting industries eg airlines to get the economy back on track, and any care about climate change that we had before will be totally forgotten.

After this is over people will be desperate to get back to how things were, governments will be pumping money in to polluting industries eg airlines to get the economy back on track, and any care about climate change that we had before will be totally forgotten

I’m not convinced about that. I’d be very surprised if people want to travel so much any more. Seeing people stranded in far flung parts of the world with no way to get home has been a bit of a wake up. I think working from home is here to stay and the daily commute will be a memory for many people. This is cataclysmic and the world will change as a result.

@fromdownwest

The whole post stinks of privilege, I am sure there are many who would love to be in the countryside gardening. Sadly, many people are working 18 hour days in horrific conditions, others stressing as they have no work, others lying on a hospital bed fighting for their life!

Whilst you muse about how this is a blessing...maybe spare a thought, that others may have preferred this not to happen...

Shame on you OP, shame on you.

All of the above. Worst thread I have seen on here today.

And the other over-privileged posters on here are sticking out like a sore thumb! They are the ones agreeing with and supporting @XingMing

And how anyone can think it's OK to say 'well another 400 dead on top of the other 11,000 who die everyday is just a drop in the ocean,' (as the OP said at 21.37,) just knocks the stuffing out of me. I mean, what a seriously, deeply offensive and nasty thing to say.