The last time I looked around I swear it was January, and here we are. The end of April. A bank holiday weekend stretching in front of us. Obviously the bank holiday won't hit the heat heights of the last two weekends, but we have an extra day to relax, spend time with friends and family, and – finally – somewhere to go.
It's apt that the etymology behind the word 'April' comes from the verb 'aperire', which means 'to open'. While it's thought that the word refers to the opening – blooming –season for trees and flowers, it feels like so much more this year. This month has seen what really feels like a shift – both in activity and mood. Some restaurants, pubs and cafés cautiously reopened their outside spaces at the beginning of the month. We can play sport outside again, and visit places.
There are so many mixed emotions and we have to be careful that the different speeds, fears and excitement of different people don't become more dividing lines between us. Some are raring to go, others more hesitant. Small businesses are struggling to anticipate custom and demand and staffing levels. And we're all waiting, in one way or another – to see how it goes, for a vaccine, to see what happens next.
Many of us too are still trying to process the uncertainty of the last year. We're not good with dealing with uncertainty. I read something yesterday about how, for so long, independence and self reliance has been a goal of western societies. But the last year has challenged many of these lessons we've long learnt. I've had so many conversations about the parts of their lives friends want 'back' – and the parts that they don't; what they've missed and have realised they cherished. The joys of small things.
Yet still we don't know where this will lead. Pub gardens may be open, but the autonomy we've come to rely on isn't back yet. There are good days ahead, but there will still be setbacks, mixed feelings, anger and pain. Let's remember them and use them, but be kind to ourselves – and each other.
-Fiona
This is the introduction to our Aprll newsletter.