where do we find hope

[battenburg100]

i feel like there is no hope - i know i have more than some - a job and a partner and a family i love but everything feels so dark and there is no joy and that things will never get better.
Can i ask how you are dealing with this crisis and how to live life more happily than i already do, I feel so weak compared to other people who go through so much worse and cope, Thank you x

I'm also going to make sure I get outside to walk and do things like a hair mask, nails etc

Find it in the small stuff: a good book, chocolate, Prosecco, a game with your children, a lie in on Sunday, a new box set on Netflix, good news stories in your local press, a clean bathroom....whatever works. Focus on your daily life and what you do have, not what you don’t.

^ this I think

I think things have changed a lot since March and they will carry on changing until it is over and we are through it. It’s not a static situation.

In the meantime life is still for living - in my case it involves my job, my dc (am a single parent), things I want to do in the house (diy- decluttering), walks in the park, a course I am starting in January though I am guessing that will be remote, watching the season change, playing the piano when I have time - stuff like that.

I am quite introverted in a way and I am worried that this period has turned me into a bit of a hermit, but though it will be lovely to resume more social contact, I have kind of got used to how things are. I have a very social job though which really really helps (admin in a school).

What lovely insightful comments from you all. Hope you are finding them helpful OP. Thank you everyone

I think the plan is that social distancing will hopefully be ended by summer? I’m assuming thats a realistic target?

@DecemberStar

I find hope in the Christmas story. God came to earth to join our suffering.

@DecemberStar

And then sent COVID.

Op, thanks for starting this thread and thank you to other posters for some really helpful comments. I’m really struggling at the minute and I don’t know whether it’s hormones, anxiety or the general situation but I just feel so sad at times. It’s lovely to hear where other people are finding hope.

@Grobagsforever this explains it better than I could - in relation to an amazing painting about Kind Herod murdering all baby boys in his attempt to stamp out the "new king" signalled by the Star:

staging.mikefrost.net/greatest-christmas-painting-time/?fbclid=IwAR1ovaub-NY3vnrfAe1TYxS2cYKBfYKKyjDKZk47tQ8qW5WK6IqYraL1qjM

I try to get outside most days for a walk even though I don’t like being cold I always feel better for it. I make arrangements with friends to do this if possible and have a coffee if there is time so then I have motivation and exercise and company 😊
Looking forward to the days getting lighter now is really helpful
However today is a tough day with howling winds and pouring rain and bored children so I am feeling miserable.
Some days you just have to get through but some can be fun.
On a practical note as well as taking vitamin d and zinc for virus protection I’ve started taking vitamin b12 which helps your mood apparently. And making kefir for my gut which also helps your mood. Making big pots of soup and stews/chill so there’s always something healthy to eat when you can’t be bothered cooking and cleaning up after is really helpful. I’ve also cut down on alcohol (none during the week) as it does affect my mood badly the next day even if it’s just a glass of wine. Anything’s worth a try just now I think

Beautiful poem and great post postures.

I agree much of the horror is behind us, caveat :if they don't force schools back in this other wise it's going to be impossible for myself and the dc to avoid it with hundreds of people exposure between us...

So that could be dark but.. I've got things booked and planned and hope it's all going to a brighter spring..

Millions will be vaccinated, the weather is on our side again...every single day, we learn more about the virus, how to fight it, how to mitigate its effects.

We are at a huge turning point.

I just pray, as an article in covid said... We now need to focus our efforts on rooting out these viruses BEFORE they find us..