Bravado can be good for the soul

LET me introduce you to Sandra W, from Lincoln, who cheered my week with this:

‘Dear Bel — I wanted to tell you about our community of elderly people living in retirement apartments. We have been so good following the Government guidelines on isolating ourselves, but after many weeks, mood was falling and some people were struggling.

‘So over a week ago, at the suggestion of one of the residents, we all met in the garden with a glass and some wine. Someone brought out a CD player; we listened to some jazz, Vera Lynn and other music.

‘We sat in the sun, drinking wine, laughing and chatting for a couple of hours. It was lovely to see all the smiling faces. For a short while, the fear of coronavirus did not exist — and was not the topic of conversation.

‘As they left our little gathering, people were saying how good it had been and how it was needed to forget the world’s suffering for a while.

‘How much better they felt. It was also a bonding thing, a community thing. I hope you like my heading!’

Yes, I did! For Sandra called her email, ‘Bravado’ — it went straight to my heart.

A group of elderly neighbours chose to take the law and their lives into their own hands — and mingle. I’m sure they’d have socially distanced; what mattered was that sharing of time and space, cheering each other up.

It also happened chez nous last weekend, when my mother celebrated her 96th birthday with our whole family. My daughter gave her a huge hug for the first time in three months and Mum’s face was a picture.

I confess my own ‘bravado’ pre-dated any instructions (no government could keep me from my parents), and now I rejoice life in general can slowly be picked up.

We’re social creatures and need each other. Of course people have their reasons, but please let’s break out of the culture of fear. I raise a merry glass to ‘Bravado’ and to you, Sandra W!

Bel answers readers’ questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, london W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. Names are changed to protect identities. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence.