I can’t believe how many special days there are in May. Not just two bank holidays but did you know that May 4th is Star Wars Day for example?
I have to confess it was a surprise to me though when I realised it the pun gave me a chuckle (May the 4th be with you in case like me it’s news to you).
On a more serious note 4th May is also National Firefighters Day and later in May we celebrate Deafness Awareness, Asthma awareness, World Fair Trade, Christian Aid and Foster care amongst many other things. This year we will also celebrate the next stage of lockdown lifting on 17th May when we can once a gain meet a friend for a coffee inside a café, or share a meal in a restaurant although we will still have some social distancing restrictions to abide by. Who would ever have thought that meeting a friend for a coffee or lunch would have been something so missed?
It’s hard to imagine the impact that these lockdowns have had on many people and businesses. There are so many stories both heard and as yet unheard. So many people struggling to keep their head above water, working to stay positive or maybe feeling guilty because the lockdown hasn’t affected them as badly as some of their family or friends.
We are moving forward though. We may still have a way to go but we are getting there and there are so many new avenues to access help if you need it. That’s the one thing that has sprung up over this time, a huge new body of online support although so much of it is inaccessible to people who don’t use the internet. Google search covid support or covid mental health support and a myriad of informative helpful options are offered up.
If you prefer to talk to someone chaplains are good active, non-judgmental listeners who want to hear your story and be a part of your journey if listening would help. We can’t solve problems but we can help gain a different perspective and sign-post to other services or resources that can also help.
If you’d like to talk to a chaplain you are very welcome to call me directly on my mobile: 07526 378529 either to chat or to arrange a time to meet, or you can contact us via email on info@mitechaplaincy.com where you can request a call-back.
We also have a range of resources on our web-site including some that are more specific to the Covid-19 outbreak and some that help in dealing with stress: https://mite.org.uk
If you prefer you can easily keep in touch with us on social media:
Facebook: @mitechaplaincy Twitter: @mitesthwarr
Photo by Tobias Cornille on Unsplash
