This Lockdown is a bit of a challenge. But, thankfully, my late mother not only equipped me for life, she gave me everything I need to face very tough times. So, this is how I am surviving lockdown.
8 things my amazing, late mother taught me about how to survive the Lockdown:
1. Use Leftovers
The first thing mom always did, before cooking a meal, was to open the fridge and take out all the leftovers and all the items that were about to expire. She then planned the meal using these items first adding some fresh ingredients to bulk it out and give it flavour. And therefore, nothing ever went off in the fridge and we never threw food away.
2. Creative Cooking
Who decided that tinned pineapples do not go with baked beans? Why be conventional? Tinned food was arranged in the food cupboard, according to expiry date. So, if we needed to take out a tin for the meal, we had to take from the front. Of course, this made for some very interesting meals…and many laughs.
We all have a default meal we cook. I have made Haddock Risotto mine. I thus always have the ingredients in the cupboard and the freezer, and it is a fail-proof staple in our home today (except I make it without the leeks which aren’t my favourite).
3. Never Being Bored
I never ever get bored – there is too much to do and explore in this world. Being idle was not allowed. Mom and I either did something fun together. Or I was encouraged to create my own fun. And today I can initiate any activity – from baking, making, crafting, learning, writing and reading, to tidying, sorting, cleaning, gardening, decluttering and admin. Then of course there are a million channels on TV these days for very taste or mood, I have DVDs, boxsets and how many books have I got that I haven’t read? And all the friends around the world I can connect with on video calls. Even in isolation, there really aren’t enough hours in a day to enjoy everything there is to do at home.
4. Enjoy my Own Company
I chat, I sing, I laugh…and I don’t need anyone with me. As an only child I spent hours and hours playing on my own, and mom encouraged me to be happy on my own. I never developed a dependency on anyone else to keep me entertained or to provide me with company.
5. Always Have Fun
Mom and I spent many hours chatting and laughing. She gave me the gift of finding a reason to laugh and smile in every situation or experience. This is a key to life and not just a tool for surviving lockdown.
6. The Love of Learning
I find it difficult to go a day without learning something new. I love reading non-fiction, finding courses online, signing up for webinars. The Lockdown is the best time to take a step back from life and find opportunities to learn and raise our own skill level.
7. Positivity
Mom was a poorly-paid nurse. With only one salary in the house, we often had very little or nothing. We could go days eating only eggs on toast, as there was no money to buy any other food. But mom never allowed this to bring our spirits down. We found positivity and stories in the smallest of things.
8. Every day is a ‘Special Occasion’
This I learnt, not because mom did this, but because she didn’t. In 1970 mom and dad were given a lovely cutlery set in a beautiful wooden box, for their wedding. We never used it while mom was alive. It was kept for a ‘special occasion’, which never came. I feel so sad that mom went without, and held so much back.
I decided when she died that every day of my life would be celebrated as a special occasion. So, during the lockdown, I am loving the opportunity to use special soaps and creams given to me for my birthday and for Christmas, so I don’t need to shop unnecessarily.
So… Surviving Lockdown? A piece of cake!
All thanks to my wonderful mom!
There is something quite powerful in finding structure too!
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