Regaining time post covid
Its been a crazy 4 years for me with lots of diversions to get to this point in time where the dust has finally settled. It took a while to ‘get over it’. Let me take you back to end of 2019. I was trapped in an evacuation centre during the new year eve bushfires. That changed a lot about how I perceived displaced people. As I was one momentarily for 4 days. The events around that time where surreal and bi-polar.
Imagine this, holiday makers celebrating NYE, unaware and ignorant that the tent next to them had a family grieving their destroyed home. Not to mention no wifi, roads out, electricity, payment methods, fuel stations, only reliable thing was a 1 hour wait at a Telstra phone booth for a 2 minute emergency call to loved ones to say you’re alive, one water tap for 3000 people’s drinking water, and the local butcher and restaurant donating food before it goes off from no refrigeration. It took 4 days with 15 hours to drive home for a 5 hour trip.
Not long after that, I went away for another trip to WA for 3 weeks to see my dad. It was enjoyable, and on the upside, upon my return on the first night back in the Gong, I met my future husband.
Dating during covid was an interesting and restrictive event for me. Gone where the privileges and freedoms I created for my life. Many people did not see any changes to their daily lives, but for creatives like me, it was a big blow. No customers allowed, limited financial assistance to business owners with savings, no human interaction, timed outings, and restricted movement. Similar to being trapped in the bush fires, but a long slow burn. I was in my bubble with my partner. Its great that I had him as my rock. During the time I’ve known him, I have moved into his place, moved my studio to the city, while my new studio was being built. Got married and moved home again, went away honeymooning and then finally moved the studio back to the new build. OMG! I moved 4 times in 3.5 years!
I was missing my creative space. I have finally regained it. Before covid I had been drawing and painting daily, teaching classes, was in 5 shows a year, and enjoyed my custom art commissions for clients. Reflecting on life back then, this is now my life goal! I can put my roots down again not feel so displaced and continue where I left off from.