Last week we went out to watch England playing rugby in the local Spanish bar. Four of us – my husband, my son, my dog and myself. The bar was fairly full – all locals chatting, drinking, sharing time together, as we were . We had some food, enjoyed the game and came home.
Fast forward to a week later.
There are no bars open in the whole country. There is no rugby to watch as all sport is cancelled. You cannot have your dog more then 50m away from your house, and that’s only to go to the toilet, then home. You cannot go out of your home with anyone else. You have to be alone. In your car, on the street.
The streets, normally alive with people sipping coffee in the sunshine, are now desserted.
You cannot go out without a mask and gloves. Anyone who does not only risks fines, they also invite resentment and fear from anyone in the street. People are not allowed within 1m of each other. No-one smiles – even if they did you wouldn’t see it behind the mask.
All countries across the world are rapidly becoming the same, and closing their borders to all.
How did it go from normal day to day life, to this overnight?
Fear.
When we are all afraid we want to be told what to do, how to behave. We want boundaries and restrictions because they somehow make us feel safe. We are now so bound and restricted that we should feel as safe as houses! Yet still the fear is there.
Imagine a world where everyone is free. Where we can go outside into nature and feel the sun on our skin. We can run with our dog along an unrestricted beach. We can smile at our fellow humans and give affection to our friends. We can trust each other not to abuse mother earth with our destructive behaviour, and to only act in the best interests of man and animal in all we do.
What do we need to get this beautiful world? Do we need a separation from our freedom before we know what we are losing? Do we need time to reflect on who we are as individuals and how we impact the world and each other? Do we need time as a family to re-connect? Do we need to see our medical professions back break to realise that it is we who are ultimately responsible for our own health? These are golden opportunities for us to grow as individuals – hard lessons maybe, but look at what we can learn!
Or are we waiting for someone else to do something for us? To tell us what we need, what we must do? Or what we must take?
That magic pill? If we are full of fear, this is how we react.
Don’t be afraid. We have the answers inside each and every one of us.
Do not let fear into your heart. However hard this is, and whatever it is you fear the most, you can conquer it. And when you do, you will find freedom.
Freedom from fear, is something only YOU can give yourself – no-one else.
I wish you all good health, calm and clarity and above all LOVE
LORRAINE EREIRA 