It’s been a tough couple of years, that’s for sure. The uncertainty of our world and the crazy that lies within has been scary at worst and unsettling at best. But in true Hannah style my reflections are mostly positive for the COVID years that were.

I am sure we will look back on this time through a different lens than we are right now. The COVID changes and the most over used phrase ‘the new normal’ life we live in have been talked to death. This isn’t that kind of blog. This is an observation on the good I can reflect on since March 2020.
Many know of the story of my fiancé and I meeting in Australia back in July of 2019, but for those of you that don’t, here it is in the preview version. After a chance encounter and chatting briefly in my favourite bar in Terrigal, Pocket Bar, was the beginnings of a long (very) long distance relationship. He’d visited from London for work and I was just being me, chatting to locals and visitors in the bar. We were never really sure how we were going to make it work, given the distance and the time zones, but somehow we did. With 3 hours dedicated to vid chatting in the mornings, and again 3 hours at night, we’d discuss about meeting around the world to be able to spend time together (which we’d started to do), and after 9 months Matthew had once again planned a trip to Australia. The plan was to rendezvous at Sydney airport as Mum and I would have been arriving after a 2 week holiday to the States. But then……well…..COVID. As New York City was slowly shutting down, which was our first destination, we reluctantly cancelled our well planned trip, and had said to mum, “I know there is a silver lining, I just don’t know what it is yet”. Interesting how you reflect on moments in time like this, which for me is all about continuing to learn more about myself each day.
Within 24 hours of our trip having to be cancelled, I received a call from Matthew who was getting nervous about the border situation and the unfolding COVID situation around the world and decided to get to the next flight out of London so his trip would not be cancelled and we could spend time together. I was so excited that with 48 hours he would be arriving, not knowing what crazy was about to ensue around the world. After Matthew’s plane lands safely and we head back up the coast, we listen in shock when Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces the following day the Australian border would be closed to international visitors. If he had hesitated for just one more day……wow! This was in March 2020, and now with many months passed, had he not made it into the country, I am not sure when it would have been that we’d have seen each other again. The best silver lining EVER!!! In the time since his arrival we have moved house, got engaged, bought a house and shared so many memories and laughs. With both us working from home during the majority of that time, has afforded us an amazing amount of time together. What a privilege after so many month apart. 

At Sydney airport when Matthew landed – 19 March 2020

Casting my mind back even further, another wonderful silver lining I was reminded of recently when I was interviewed by a school friend for their podcast. That was a whole other experience as we covered so much ground. Matthew Barry, my interviewer, had a brilliant way of drawing out these reflections through his myriad of questioning. I was quite unprepared for some of the questions, as we covered everything from parenting, to my First Dates appearance, to being a good mother during divorce, to being tarred with a reputation for being a teachers pet in high school. 
You can listen to the episode here (The Chattering Classes), to hear in more detail about my reflections of a challenging time in high school, learning I had a gay dad, and what a wonderful opportunity this afforded me later in life to teach my children kindness, acceptance and unconditional love. It’s so interesting when you have the chance to add maturity to your thinking process. You don’t often have insight while you’re in the middle of life changing events. I would say most people have the ability to see in hindsight in something which appeared bad while it’s happening, can see the better side of it, but it is a true skill to be able to recognise that rainbows can come from darkness while you’re right in the thick of it.  

Now for a moment of gratitude. and quiet reflection of what I’ve learnt this year. Being a busy person by nature, and wildly sociable, it has been with shock I’ve understood the value of being still. I generally am looking for an excuse to be “out”, with people…doing something. Imposed upon me over the last year and a half has been a requirement to STOP. While I thought this would drive me crazy, I have found this time quite enjoyable. Having a busy life is still great, but I feel had I not had the lockdowns etc imposed upon me, I am not sure I would be at a place right now where I have a wonderful balance of social times with friends and family and time to dedicate reenergising at home. Those who have followed me on social media, may not think that happens given the posts of events and social beevys with friends, but I can assure you, the opportunity to unplug and unwind is now fully embedded into my life. 
So thank you COVID for so much, despite recognising a lot of awful has happened to many people, I can’t help but look back on this time and smile, knowing what a lot of good has come out of it. 
Remembering it’s ok to feel sad, upset, anger and any negative emotions when you’re experiencing it…….you just can’t camp there. 
What’s your silver lining moment?