Thought For The Day (First published 30 March 2020)
The magnitude of the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus, or caused by the government in response to the coronavirus, is so unbelievably huge that it's almost impossible to take in. The virus itself is bad enough but the response is making me feel so sick and worried for our future, the future of the UK and the rest of the world, that that feeling of dread is creeping into my bones and suffocating my spirit.
I see happy, jumping children transformed into hunched worried waifs. I see smiling, busy parents white faced and deep frowned. I see jolly waiters grey with worry, empty tables, and barren kitchens. I hear worried silence where there should be laughter, quiet murmurings where there should be singing, stiff bodies where there should be dancing.
The streets are empty, the shelves are bare.
The schools where laughter and happy screeching are a delight to hear, have shut their doors on the innocent gaiety, the incessant chatter, the sweetest of singing and the childlike aroma of baby hair.
I am struggling to live a life where cuddles are banned, where human interaction is frowned upon. Where we can't visit our old people or socialise with others.
But, and it's a big but could this imposed isolation have a positive effect? Will make us all realise just how much we do all need each other?
That we need to make kindness a lifestyle choice.
While now, a trip to the supermarket reminds us of some sort of gruesome war time footage, perhaps we will look back at these desperate times and improve ourselves. Improve our attitudes towards one another.
The virus itself is frightening but hopefully, with the help of scientists and the magnificence of the NHS, it will be overcome.
Then we will all face the biggest challenge. To rebuild our country and the world.
We are all going to have to step up.
We will need to insist on kindness.
And we will need to rediscover our sense of wonder.
It's not going to be easy, but we owe it to our children, and their children too, to give them back a bright new world.
