Lockdown 49

Lockdown Day 49 - 14 May 2020

Today Roxy and I started out at first light in the first cold Free State morning of 6°C. Eureka! Below 10 degrees at last! And as predicted, we were alone for most of the way, enjoying the sun coming up and feeling the bite of the cold on our faces. Happy days! 

Once home, I tackled my weekly baking session aimed at spoiling the man people with a few eats. After which I spent some time catching up on my old magazines I never had time for pre-lockdown. l read all the travel features, movie and theatre reviews, articles on events such as 'sweat parties' (exercise events), Chasing the Sun on rooftops (a Big City mass aerobics thing) and business breakfasts. I was transported into the pre-lockdown life! All the editors published content for a Covid19 - free world. No survival skills, symptom-lists and interviews with doctors and front line staff. I find myself looking forward to my weekly shopping to see what the headlines look like now, 8 weeks along. 

Haven't even peeked to see the online front pages of all my faves. 

Last night, when I went to bed after the Prez spoke, I had world leaders in my thoughts, and felt thankful I wasn't one. Which is why, while thumbing through my magz today, I immediately noticed a less-known quote by none other than Nelson Mandela. He said, 

"Your playing small does not serve the world. 

Who are you not to be great?" 

At reading this, I stopped to think about this. Two little sentences packing a giant punch. Who am I to think I can't be amazing? Who are we, as lockdown thinkers not wanting to still, against the odds, be absolutely fantastic?! The first part hit me a while later. And almost immediately resulted in a question: 

Am I playing small? Are we playing small? 

The futuristic inspirational nature of this quote is in itself jaw dropping. But because Nelson Mandela said it, it creates a whole new dimension within this quote. In my mind's eye I imagine a reporter asking him what he means by this. And the answer would be something simple, but powerful:

"Stop selling yourself short, you were made with the potential to hold the world in your hands........all you have to do is decide!" 

This makes me want to jump up and shout, "YES!!"  Let's grab hold of our world and run with our own brand of greatness! 

Be fearlessly authentic ! 

In the words of Psalm 8:4-5, 

"What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor." 

'Nuff said. 

The God who visits us and crowns us has got this.