It’s been a year today that we were first placed in lockdown, a year that nobody expected and certainly didn’t want.
Today has triggered off some thoughts and reflection on what has happened for my business, for me as an individual and for my family and despite the obvious negatives, there have been many positives, which reflection has enabled me to see clearer and above all take stock and appreciate.
As a business we have moved head office we have expanded the team (lost a couple of team member unfortunately) have opened a further office and gained a member of staff whom I have been hoping to join for many years. Our profit was up 12% on last financial year and we are already up 25% in turnover to date this year.
As has been documented previously, my health hasn’t always been great for the last 20 years ranging from bone cancer to numerous other operations and being diagnosed with ehlers danlos syndrome. This last year has seen a massive improvement in my health and I do believe that this is due to, rather than running around like a headless chicken and partying every weekend I have stopped, chilled and appreciated all around me and as a consequence for the first time in many years I haven’t need an operation for over 12 months.
Having 2 daughters one aged 19 and one 11, I have watched my eldest (despite not being able to have the life a university student should have) still manage to obtain a 1st during her first year doing biomedicine and my youngest being awarded house captain and preparing herself for high school.
We as a family have lost people albeit not due to covid but it has served to only bring us closer. I am lucky, we are lucky, my business is lucky and for that I am thankful.
One of my team members has a book of quotes on her desk, I thought this one was rather apt.
“Those holes we have in our hearts are what truly connect us to each other. They’re the spaces we can make for other people’s sorrow and a pain, as well as their love, so that eventually, instead id feeling empty, our hearts feel even bigger and fuller.” Dr Martin Luther King Jr
Now to just be able to give my mum and dad a cuddle….