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Freedom Friday

At 11.59pm Thursday 23 October 2021 we will move out of our 6th lockdown.  Not completely, but there is a significant easing of the restrictions that have been in place for the last few months. The 9pm curfew is gone, as is the 15km radius limit.  People are permitted to venture out and begin the process of integrating back into society. I honestly do not know how to feel about this. 

Over the last two years, we in Melbourne having been living a strange life. It is hard to imagine or even empathise with, unless you have lived through a Melbourne lockdown. Cut off from the rest of the country and the world, our lives have been spent living with health directives, daily press conferences that go for hours that often do more to depress than motivate the people and a long list of things we cannot do. We have missed birthdays, weddings, funerals and the sheer joy of celebrating each others achievements. Video chat initially a novelty has worn thin. Walks with a bubble buddy have been replaced with the need to simply sit and chat, bonus if we can take our mask off to sip a drink. In a sea of masked faces, being able to connect and engage with a loved one is vital. 

I have spent the better part of two years, working from home, exercising, cooking/eating and probably drank way too much to distract myself. We have developed new routines and learnt to deal with our lowkey lives. While I definitely miss my friends and family, the thought of the massive change in my routine again, has me feeling a little anxious. Those close to me, know that I have minor issues with social anxiety at the best of times. Let alone post-lockdown, where the thought of mixing with more than 5 people at a time feels overwhelming. Whilst we have all been languishing and counting down the days until freedom, there is still an element of uncertainty.  The transition to a new "normal" life will take time. 

My advice is to go at your own pace. Embrace the additional liberties as as we emerge from our hibernation and join the free world. Start with concentrating on reconnecting with friends and family. The ability to visit family and friends in-home and to have visitors to my own place fills me with joy. With heavily restricted numbers at venues, there is no need to rush to get back into social activities, flocking bars and restaurants. As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race.

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