- Kathy Shaw
COVID-19
Updated: May 25, 2020
Hi everyone,
as a counsellor I have been trying to remain calm whilst all this change is taking place. I’m listening to the news and hearing life as we know it change on a daily basis. I’ve heard stories that have made me cry and watched videos of people coming together that have made my heart soar. I am witnessing, as I do in my counselling room, the spectrum of emotions that humans go through. I know that there are many people out there that are scared, worried and dreading what is to come, but I’m a great believer in looking on the positive side of life and know that in order for me to remain calm I need to make sense of what is going on around me. I have always committed my thoughts to paper, whether that is writing in a diary or writing poetry, as this helps me to sort through the chaos of my mind. I function better in life if I can get a handle on my thoughts, so as we go through this episode in history I have spent some time putting my thoughts on paper and I would like to share them with you.
Hopefully in the comments you will share with me what you are doing during this stressful time to work through your thoughts and take care of your mental health. I hope you enjoy my attempt!

COVID-19
Life as we know it has been suspended
for the fearful amongst us it feels the world has ended
the life we took for granted has gone in the blink of an eye
we sit and we wait, and we hope not to die.
The panic is spreading, the fear has begun
there’s nowhere to hide, there’s nowhere to run
it’s affecting us all, the whole human race
it’s out of control, we can’t keep up the pace.
It feels like our life is not ours anymore
we sit and we wait to lock all our doors
to go into lockdown, quarantine, isolation
not all separate parts but the whole of the nation.
We sit glued to the TV, the radio, the phone
to keep up to date so we don’t feel alone
it feels safer in numbers, there is much less fear
we will tough this one out with our Great British cheer.
We will look to our leaders to show us the way
we will hang on to every word that they say
we will hope, we will pray that this soon will be done
so we can move from the dark and once again see the sun.
But whilst we wait on the powers that be
we can look at this time as an opportunity
to spin this negative on its head
and search in ourselves for the positives instead.
This is the time when the world gets a break
from the fast pace of life and the stress that it makes
the time to reflect and look at how we are living
to see that it’s not about taking, it’s all about giving.
Giving the most vulnerable the opportunity to thrive
giving the older generation a chance to stay alive
calming our children making them feel safe and secure
it’s our duty, we’re parents, it’s what we’re here for.
We need to just breath and not jump the gun
this world war battle is one to be won
the time when humans we show ourselves at our best
it’s not just about you, it’s about all the rest.
Where once there was darkness
there will soon become light
humans are resilient
we won’t give up the fight.
We will stand together and follow our heart
we won’t let mans greed tear us apart
COVID 19 will be a thing of the past
we will find some way to kick its ass.
We will show the world over
that humanity will be fine
that the dark cloud will go
and the sun will once again shine.
And whilst we wait for that day to come
I send this message to each and everyone
the world isn’t run by the powers above
it’s run on kindness, compassion and above all love.
Stay safe everyone.
Kathy
Copyright. Kathryn Shaw 20.03.20