Here is an honest ramble about lock-down, isolation, and how it is playing around with my mental health.
For someone who was self-isolating days before the lock-down was announced, it now feels like forever since I have seen anything other than the walls of my flat, and my girlfriend (lucky her). Each day is tough mentally to see what I can do that is ‘different’ or ‘productive’. As someone who cannot work from home, and was laid off last week, it has been a testing time, wondering where the next pay cheque is coming from. Many job applications have been sent, and many places have been visited to enquire about work with no prevail. Many of you are in the same boat, and I hope that you all are stable and that this pandemic is not affecting you too heavily.
The days are getting repetitive and full of waiting. I wake up and check to see if there are any new jobs, I check to see the progress of the applications I have made, and then I just wait. I wait for a phone-call, or an update or just something from ‘the outside world to happen’ (ironically I was laid off from a job as a waiter). In between this checking, I feel that I am simply filling the time. This has been tough for
It has been tough. Yesterday, I left the house for the first time in four days, and I felt as if I had not seen the sun for an eternity. I have got a plan of what exercise to do per day, and I am working towards a target of a 5km run in under 30 minutes. And I think this is something that people need right now, a goal to work towards. I have also planned what bits and pieces around the flat I can do to try and de-clutter, and tidy up. Those horrible jobs that we always put off have never looked more appealing.
One of the biggest things that has helped me through the last couple of days has been this page, and the interactions that I have had. I have been overwhelmed with the many people who have messaged to check in, and see how I am doing, it has made me feel amazing that so many people have cared enough to get in touch. I know that there will be many of you out there who are feeling the same as me, and this is why as a Walsall community, it is time to really rally together, and look out for one another.
During this difficult time, anyone who needs a person to say hello to, or chat with, then I hope you would get in touch. There is also Tom Heslop from the club who has invited any fan to get in touch to chat all things Walsall, and there is SLO Graham Whittaker who is always available too. I want all of you who read this to try and check in on some of those within the Walsall world that may need a simple ‘Hello’. Walsall fans are amazing. We stick together and look out for one another, and now, more than ever, we need to do that.
Content going forward from here will be a little different. I am trying to get a few Q and A’s with Ex-players arranged, as well as some other bits and pieces. Any suggestions I would love to hear them!
Stay safe guys, and I hope lock-down is treating you as well as it can do.
