It’s so easy right now to be depressed, angry, scared, confused - you name it, the emotion fits. I feel many of these emotions too. I’m human. We do, however, also have things to be cheerful or grateful about.

I have started a daily post routine on my personal facebook page - Reasons to be cheerful. Each day a different reason. It’s actually quite easy to do. There’s always something to be cheerful about or grateful for. Admittedly, some days if you’re having a tough day, you may need to think a bit harder.

I’ll share some of my reasons to be cheerful below, many are very simple in nature. But before I do that, I don’t think it would be very honest of me to give the impression that every moment of my life right now is fun and lovely. It’s not.

What’s up Emma?

I’m going to allow a few moments to acknowledge some of the stuff that’s tough. I’ll do what I can to then reframe each one to a better place.

Swim plans

I’ve shared before that I have some really BIG swim plans this year:

• Mid June - channel relay

• 30th June - Catalina channel

• 3rd July - Alcatraz

• 5th July - 20 Bridges

• Mid August - channel relay

• September - channel relay

Somehow I doubt that any of the June or July swims will go ahead. When this reality dawned on me it was pretty disappointing. For the first time in quite a few years, my training was going REALLY well. I was feeling strong and much faster in the water. It wasn’t just pool stuff that I was focused on though, I was also doing corrective exercises for some weaknesses, strength & conditioning work and things like yoga & pilates. I was all set for a very good season.

At the time that it all dawned on me that these swims probably won’t go ahead, I was still able to train. Leisure centres were still open and the club was still training. It all felt a little pointless though. My motivation dropped.

Financially, I don’t yet know where I stand with it all. I do know that I have paid out a lot already. Has the opportunity gone completely? Will it get delayed to later in the year or to another year? I don’t have any of the answers.

I’ve stopped looking for team members for the August relay, it seems pointless at this time. I’ll cross that bridge nearer the time should we be able to train.

The June and September relays were blown out from last year. I’ve waited a month before, never 2 years!!

However, let’s re-frame all this.

That training is never wasted. I got myself to a good level of fitness. I’m still doing the strength & conditioning work at home and I’m making use of my once a day outside exercise entitlement, mostly with cycling.

The world seems to be full of people who want to help others keep going - the swimming club is holding daily online strength & conditioning sessions, the yoga teacher is still teaching via Instagram. I have more training opportunity available to me than I have time to do. This has brought the best out in people who just like to help others.

The channel and other swims will still be there in the years to come, I’ll just need to practice my patience like I did in the string of years when one illness after another, including cancer, stopped me in my tracks and kept me from swimming.

Isolation

I live in Surrey. My partner lives in Lincolnshire, though spends most of his time in my house in Surrey. He happened to be in Lincolnshire when the lockdowns commenced and happened to develop a cough. As a result he had to self-isolate for 7 days. Challenge was that his daughter was also with him at this time so she has to self-isolate for his 7 days plus another 7 days on top. So that’s 2 weeks. A further complication is that his ex, where his daughter normally stays, is a higher risk individual and it may be unwise for the daughter to stay there.

Thinking that through, that may mean that I may not see him until this is all over. That could be months. Whilst what we have is strong enough to handle time apart, who could ever have anticipated events like these.

Re-frame - how lucky am I to be in a relationship where I have confidence that we can withstand this kind of curved ball. We still have the joys of technology to enable contact.

Playing down ailments

When all this kicked off, I had a persistent headache and a dodgy tummy - clearly non COVID-19 symptoms. Painkillers were not working. I did feel truly rubbish, I was exhausted from not sleeping. In other times I would probably not be working. But because these were not COVID-19 symptoms and because I was already working from home, I continued to work.

I did eventually contact a GP and the conclusion was that it was related to a viral infection and it did eventually pass. However, no sooner this this pass than a dodgy back took over and I still can’t sleep. After about 2.5 hours in bed I become so uncomfortable in my back and legs that I wake up and can’t get back to sleep. I’ll be up and about for a while until things settle again and if I’m lucky I’ll get another 2.5 hours of sleep.

Ordinarily, I’d see my chiropractor and he’d sort it - almost instant relief. I can’t see my chiropractor until the travel restrictions lift, I face this issue for potentially months. Lack of sleep impacts on so much.

Re-frame - I don’t have COVID-19. Whilst I may have impacted sleep, I am still able to act normally during the day and can still enjoy my exercise. Also, whilst speaking with one of the GPs I have managed to get them to agree to me having my monthly B12 injections at home. Something that wasn’t previously possible. This means that I can fit this injection in around my busy schedule and flex the timing to suit. I suspect I’ll be able to continue doing this long after the COVID-19 threat has passed.

Dover training

I’ve had to make the tough decision of saying that there will be no Dover training until the current travel restrictions have been lifted. Initially I tried thinking about all the adaptations that could be made or which other ways could I provide support outside of Dover, and concluded there were currently no options. Frustratingly, I had already purchased all the things needed for the start of the season - blank membership cards, had all the SIPE medic alert cards printed, purchased 20kg of vaseline, ordered the signing in books. I was ready and the money had been spent.

Re-frame - I have a great group of volunteers who are there to help me think through how and when we can introduce training. I have the opportunity to be creative now on the various ways that I can continue to support swimmers in this stressful time and to do this online. The swimmers have been understanding and supportive of my decision.

Get the picture?

There are a million big and little things that are impacted by something as big as COVID-19. I have no idea what the future holds. Will I contract the virus? Possibly, probably, who knows? Worrying about it can’t control or change it. I’ll continue to look for the opportunities to reframe a negative into a positive.

Change curve

One thing I’ve learned through my years of working in change management is that it’s natural to go through a series of steps when you are subject to change that is outside your control. There are many models out there that describe this process. One that I’ll like to refer to is a simple one - the SARA model:

• Shock

• Anger

• Resistance

• Acceptance

When you think about your own reaction to this situation and how your reaction has changed since it started, can you recognise this change curve? Where are you now? If you’re not already at acceptance, what can you or should you do to move on? Can I help you?

Gratitude

Going back to the topic at the start, I have a planner that I use each day. It helps me focus on the most important things for that day whilst still progressing towards my overall goal. One of the daily routines is identifying three things that I’m grateful for each morning and again in the evening.

Some days are easy, some are more difficult and make me think harder. There are always things to be grateful for though, sit and be still and you will find them.

Reflecting on what you’re grateful for at the end of the day is a particularly good habit to create as it helps to counteract any stress before you go to sleep and can lead to better quality of sleep.

So here are some of my posts……

Reasons to be grateful, part 1

With an aim to remain positive, despite having non COVID-19 symptoms for too many days for my liking now, this tree in my garden is looking particularly lovely today.

Reasons to be cheerful, part 2

I went for a last yoga session and last swim in my local pool last night, all with appropriate distancing. Both were quiet.

On the way out I spoke to one of the receptionists and asked her what she plans to do. ‘Knitting’ was the answer. That may have really meant ’I don’t yet know’ but what a great idea. I still have a half finished scarf to do for Georgia.

Reasons to be cheerful, part 3

Three amazing kids.

Georgia is a teacher and still working by providing support for front line workers.

Josh is a 999 call handler and busier than you could ever imagine.

Lauren made it back from college in the USA despite some hair raising challenges.

Photos from times before social distancing.

Reasons to be cheerful, part 4

Look what has bloomed in my garden today………

Reasons to be cheerful, part 5

I have another favourite tree in my garden. One that goes through many phases throughout the year, each one I think is the most beautiful (until the next one). It looks like it’s about to spring into life. I can’t wait!!

Reasons to be cheerful, part 6

Today I combined my #onceaday exercise with shopping for vital supplies. I had a lovely bike ride through Send and the back lanes to Ripley and home 9.1km in total. I literally had all my eggs in one basket!

I stopped to take the first photo and inadvertently stopped at a few metres away from a teenager also on his once a day run but had stopped for a different reason, I suspect he was caught short rather than admiring the field based on how fast he then sprinted off!

It was also lovely to hear the babbling brooks and the chirping birds.

So what makes me cheerful is being able to be so rural within a few minutes of leaving my house. Yet I’m only 5 minutes drive away from the M25 and a short train journey to London.

Bliss.

#DoWhatYouCAN

Reasons to be cheerful, part 7

Mother’s Day flowers from Lauren are still looking lovely and brightening up the house.

Reasons to be cheerful, part 8

I’m training enough to have a touch of DOMS, not too bad, just enough to know that I am still training, albeit mostly at home or on my #onceaday outside exercise.

This bubble bath with bath bomb was a lovely treat!

Reasons to be cheerful, part 9

Interestingly, my daily planner reminds me each day to list three things that I am grateful for in the morning and then again in the evening. The theory is that if you reflect on what you’re grateful for before going to bed that you actually sleep better.

There is always something to be grateful for, some days you just have to think a little harder.

Today I am grateful for my own wellness. Ok, so I have a list of chronic issues as long as your arm, but they are all manageable and allow me to lead a happy and healthy life. With so much fear of and impact of the coronavirus, I feel lucky to be well.

Keep well everyone.

Reasons to be cheerful, part 10

Roast chicken with Josh and Emma. It was delicious. I almost forgot to take a photo!

Josh is an NHS 999 call handler for ambulance service.

Emma is a paramedic.

Both are inspirational and playing an active part in the NHS response.

Go ahead try it

If you haven’t tried doing a gratitude journal before, I’d strongly encourage you to do it. There is always something to be grateful for. If you can’t find something, let’s chat, we’ll find something together.