I am sure that you, like myself, have been very reflective during this period of enforced lockdown and isolation and the varying degrees in between which we have all faced during these very surreal and often frightening times.
I have to admit that I have a bit of a careless side to myself, to the point of actual sabotage, c'est la vie and all that and fate will decide.
Well that's all well and good for me when it's just my life and effects no one else; however as I now care for my Dad full time and I value his health and well being very highly, I find myself these days and very naturally putting someone else's wellbeing before my own and I also find myself getting scared unlike I never did.
As such I have instinctively abided and exceeded Government advice regarding the health and wellbeing and isolation of those of his age (86 years old) and who have like him a myriad of health issues.
So for the past 4 months (before Government dictated) myself and Dad have been in lockdown and we have now both got a little stir crazy; we seriously haven't been anywhere, well I have been out in the car about once a fortnight to pick up a click and collect food shop from Tescos, but apart from that the outside has literally another planet that we have yet to discover!!! Dad however has been in complete lockdown.
Things however have now changed as this week Dad became very low, to the point of depression. Sometimes you have to weigh up physical versus mental health, he told me that he's 86 years old, that he has lived his life and there is no point him living any longer if he can't see and hug his children and grandchildren. It was for me a bit of a reality check I was so focussed on protecting him from this awful virus that I lost sight of the point of living, and he's absolutely right, you really have to balance mental and physical health and determine what is most important; context being everything.
So this week I decided to relax a little and took Dad out onto the sea front for an ice cream which was completely socially distanced.
I also had my sister and her son (his daughter / grandchild) over for the day in the garden this week and today my brother and his daughter (son and grandchild) came for a couple of hours to see him.
The result at the end of this week is that he is so much brighter and healthier and he feels life is worth living.
So what I would say in the final analysis is that we all have to navigate these very unsure waters as best we can, we can take onboard the best advice, but ultimately we need to do what is best for ourselves and our own.
Life is ultimately short and especially if you don't feel you have that many more years to come, you must do what is best for your own mental and physical well being without compromising the health of others. Please stay safe and do what is ultimately best for you and your loved ones. Love to all xxx
