How to Love the Sh*t Out of Lockdown: The Sky is Not Falling

They were floating very slowly in the sky and for a moment, a hopeful smile crept across my face. I often find myself looking at the sky. Clear blue and sunny or grey and thunder-y, it always has a way of providing perspective when I need it. That morning, there were three hot air balloons in the distance and I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I took a brief snap, stared for a few more seconds, and went about my day.

It’s funny how when there is something in the sky, we stare in awe. I still do it with planes, stars, the moon, skywriting. Anytime I saw skywriting as a kid I would internally and externally lose my shit. It was always so exciting. It’s amazing what impact this big ol’ blue thing has given it’s just sorta there, not really doing that much, except when Mother Nature calls.

When the most recent Greater Sydney lockdown was announced in late June, I found myself searching for the right image to share on my podcast socials, one to provide some hope and be a calming influence to anyone who cared to see it. I was careful not to post an awkward selfie with a sappy quote because, well, a bit cringe. But I felt it was important to share something given my ability to love the shit out of life. It would be rude not to, I told myself.

I scrolled through my phone, searching for the most appropriate image to share about this sucky situation. And there she was. That big ol’ blue thing, staring at me as I probably stare at it. No hot air balloons this time, but still beautiful. All the way from Sydney lockdown 1.0, in April 2020. It seemed an age ago when we first faced this.

Lockdown means very different things for people. There is a collectiveness about the situation but it would be ignorant to think that people are all experiencing the exact same challenges and struggles. We know lockdown affects some more harshly than others. I will never know what it is like to have to shut my business down indefinitely nor would I ever want to know the feeling. It seems awful and I feel for so many who have experienced this.

I know that posting an image of the sky to my Instagram is not going to bring back millions of lost income to those businesses. It’s not going to automatically rid someone of anxiety or depression. But I know, in my darkest moments, in the times I feel completely lost or scared, finding the peace in one brief moment brings me hope.

It’s not even about the photo or a post and some words. There is something in those simple, basic things that bring us back to who we are. Those things can centre us when we feel off balance.

The reason why I picked that photo is because it took me back to that first lockdown. When it was new and quite anxiety-inducing at times. I got through that period through a few key ways and finding that hope through the simple and even mundane, is one of them. It’s also amazing how being in a situation like this means you don’t have to always “find” those moments. Sometimes they are just there and you catch yourself acknowledging them with a smile that’s crept across your face without realising it.

Sydney will pick itself back up once it can. Hopefully in a couple more weeks. So will the people. The world is not ending, again, because how many times did we hear that in 2020 and yet, it’s still going. The sky is not falling. It holds space each and every day for planes, stars, the moon, skywriting, those glorious early morning hot air balloons and most importantly, hope for us all.