Moments of joy in isolation

TODAY I was allowed out! After self-isolating due to a family member with a positive test we have spent the best (or worst) part of the last two weeks shut away from the world.

I thought my world was small before that but it just got a bit smaller!

Although grateful for the garden and someone to be shut away with, I was surprised how hard I found it. The smaller my world got, the less control I had over events and the more my head went into overdrive with anxiety.

Leading a mental health charity through these times I should have known this. Enough of our regulars at our Renew spaces have told me about the walls closing in on them in their homes and how glad they have been to pop into one of our wellbeing spaces.

But experiencing first-hand again what some people face every day has given me new respect for those who knew they were not OK even before a global pandemic.

Those who have had long empty days due to mental health challenges and yet have still managed to get up and get on with their day, finding meaning and purpose in the small unseen habits and hobbies. I salute you. I want to learn from you.

In this self-isolated world, I am delighted to lead a charity that is seeing a massive growth in churches joining in, being willing to do something about the isolation around them.

We have grown from one centre in West Bridgford over five years ago to nearly 200 churches opening or preparing to open places where it is OK not to be OK.

Many of these spaces are on screens at the moment but we will open our doors again.

We will need each other. We will need spaces on every street where we can reconnect and attend to our damaged wellbeing together.

For me, prayer is a big part of this and so while we wait for the new different I am choosing to practise prayer that is more than just worrying with my eyes shut, that is a peaceful tapping into a bigger story of a God who doesn’t change, is always loving.

I choose to be honest about my worries and learn from my friends about how to put one foot in front of the other, find a hobby, share small moments of joy when I can until the world grows around us again.

Ruth Rice is director of Renew Wellbeing (renewwellbeing.org. uk) a national Christian charity helping churches set up wellbeing spaces to help improve mental and emotional health. She has lived in Nottingham for over 30 years.