We are not meant to live in isolation. What makes us healthy and whole are the connections we form with one another.  With our families. Our friends. Our colleagues and our community…  The thing we need the most to feel healthy has become harder to get.

After more than 30 years in the field of social work, I know one thing to be true. We do not need to be victims to our situation. We have choices to make, each and every day about how we want to live our lives. How we choose to show up for ourselves and each other.

Today we travel to the United Kingdom to meet Leanne.

Welcome Leanne. Where do you live? Give us a picture of what life is like where you are. I live in Newbury, in the United Kingdom, but I am from Cape Town, South Africa  At times things here have been unclear. The messaging ( about stay at home orders, masks, closures, etc.) has been confusing and made people frustrated. However, I am grateful that we have been allowed out to exercise. Often I’ve made a good effort to get out and get fresh air, connect with others and also spend time on me. 

How have you been affected by the pandemic?   My workplace/ organization has been hugely accommodating towards its staff. Anyone who got the virus would be given automatic sick leave. Adequate measures were put into place to help them wherever possible. Unfortunately, some of my colleagues from work as well as old friends had contracted the disease and sadly, three people from the organization I work for passed away due to complications.  

What has been the hardest thing for you to deal with? It’s been hard not being able to see people who are close to me. Being so far away from my family in South Africa and having no idea of when I’ll be able to physically see them again is really difficult. 

What have you appreciated during this period? I’m grateful for my health. My partner and family, my dogs, my good friends and the warmer weather. I’m grateful for being able to order food to make at home, trying out new recipes and making blanket forts with my partner! 

What are you doing to keep yourself emotionally healthy during this time?   I’m listening to new podcasts and I’m learning a lot. I’m spending time educating myself on topics I did not know much about. I’m making sure to exercise. It’s imperative to keep moving. I walk and run. In fact, during June and July I’m walking a tribute to the Camino (de Santiago de Compostela). We’ve been borrowing friends’ mountain bikes for a ride (sanitized of course!) I’m also gardening and have taken up a more serious approach to bird watching. This also has intrigued my partner who is getting more excited when she sees birds in the garden or out and about on one of our walks!

Thanks Leanne, for inspiring us today.

Would you like to be featured in our guest interview posts? We want to hear from you! Email me at suzanne@suzannemaggio.com.