“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Charles Dickens – ‘The Tale of two cities’.

This quotation came to mind this week, and it so perfectly sums up the Coronavirus Pandemic crisis we are currently experiencing.  Crisis times certainly do have the potential for bringing out the best and the worst in society, and in us as individuals.

The Best:

• We have seen untold random acts of kindness in our communities.
• We have been learning new recipes, enjoying the simple things of life, and maybe we have dug out that board game and read that book that’s been on our list.
• We have seen key-workers give of their absolute best in their care of others.
• We have needed to think more creatively about how we communicate and how we keep in contact with each other.
• We are getting things finished that have been pending for too long.
• We are missing our family and friends and when all this is over will value and appreciate them more than ever.

The worst:

• Financial crisis is affecting many people and there has been a sharp rise of people needing to access food banks and emergency aid.
• There is the potential for frustration and despair as the situation takes its toll.
• For those who suffer with mental health issues, this time of loneliness and limited access to support has caused a big increase in suicide and despair.
• There is the potential for being judgemental, impatient and selfish…….think toilet rolls!
• Not everyone finds change easy to cope with, especially changes in daily routines that were a lifeline and changes in the workplace where some may feel displaced.

But as Charles Dickens rightly says, yes there is a winter of despair but there will one day be a spring of hope. 

• In what ways has Covid 19 brought out the best and worst in you?
• What are you learning in this time?