We all do those things, don’t we! Sometimes it’s simply daydreaming, fantasizing, ‘pie in the sky’, fruitless and futile, and we drift, away with the birds. At least I do, sometimes!

Like it or not, we all do need to plan ahead if we are to avoid that pointless drifting. Personally, my credo of ‘Carpe diem’ ensures that few days slip by without some activity or objective. But all my energy and resolve evaporated a few days ago…. when I woke with a roaring sore throat and a headache. All my possible or potential plans were pushed aside as I spent the rest of day in pyjamas, sucking lozenges and slurping hot lemon drinks with honey and aspirins! I lost a couple of days and nights but have emerged today into a much-improved state and, I’m relieved to discover, I was not COVID affected.

Bouncing back or ‘resilience’ – for me anyway, is conditioned by three pillars: mindset, mobility, and motivation. After any of us feel ‘crook’ it’s frequently not easy to regain our previous level of activity. During those times when our lives are constrained by physical or mental distress, not having a partner is often felt even more acutely. If you recognise that feeling, please be assured, you are not alone! Phone a friend or find someone to talk to; not to whinge, just to talk. To rediscover your worth as a person and to know you need not feel alone, even when you are. We really are all in this, together!

Talking of states, and not related to my health as reported above, I have been back home again after more than two weeks in Sunny Queensland. Yes, sunny and, oh, so much warmer! It was so good to catch up with my son and his family of three married daughters and, best of all, cuddles with four of my five greatgrandchildren. Now back home in Melbourne, at least the days are getting longer, Spring is in the air and flowers are appearing….

If you are feeling down, perhaps you could have a go at creating mini-objectives, like visiting or phoning someone, reading (or listening!) to a book, watching a TV program or a movie, even looking at an object out of the window, or writing down some thoughts; all of those can help us through those mournful moments.

If you can’t get motivated, stop everything, be still and pray; my anti-depressant is prayer. It’s a great way to quietly identify and consider whatever is limiting you and to explore a pathway through it. I’ve found that’s way better than curling up into a ball and expecting to be shown the way forward – without making an effort. Maybe that’s a solution for you, too: plot, plan, and pray. Gets results every time, for me.