Never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined the apocolyptic-style lockdown we are currently facing. Overnight, ‘social distancing’ and ‘self-isolation’ have become our new normal, and life feels like we’re stuck in a made-for-TV movie. How did this happen, we ask each other, all the while reading the latest Covid 19 news in shock and disbelief. Who knows, other than that it seems to have been on the cards for a while. All we know for sure is that there is nothing we can do at this stage but stay home, hang out with the members of our immediate family and wash our hands like people possessed. At this early stage it’s impossible to predict the outcome for us in South Africa, but our government is acting swiftly and decisively, and now that we civilians have no option but to get on board and act responsibly, maybe we can avoid a catastrophe in our country. Here are a few suggestions to help get through these crazy days.
Lose the Illusion that You are in Control
We really believe that we are in the driving seat of our lives, which is why we are frequently shocked and outraged when things don’t go our way. Or when people die. Or when disaster strikes. In reality, we have no control whatsoever, and this feels very scary. If you let it. In fact, Buddhists teach that it is the illusion of control which causes our pain and suffering because we are frequently disappointed. If we can all take a deep breath and remind ourselves that we have no control whatsoever over the unfolding of the universe it can help us feel less anxious in the apex of a crisis. This thing has happened. This thing is happening still. Things will likely get worse before they get better. There is nothing we can do but ride it out. There is mounting evidence that suggests the world will never be quite the same again, but in a good way. Humankind will be humbled by what we have undergone which will make us better, kinder, more conscious inhabitants of this planet.
Know that it’s Going to be Okay
It really is. And in the meantime, there are many people who have been doing amazing things. Camps Bay High School has been gathering food packages and distributing them to households in need; people are offering services to the elderly and infirm. People have formed Facebook groups to help and support one another; yoga and exercise classes are being offered daily online. Kindness and compassion has sprung up everywhere. For all of us this is a time of turning inwards, of slowing down and of noticing what it is around us. For most of us, life passes in a blur of work and school and dinners and gym classes and supermarket trips. We rush from thing to thing, barely giving ourselves time to breathe. Now there is no school, no work (or it happens from home), no socialising, no gym. Things we entirely took for granted — a quick cup of coffee with a friend; dropping in at the neighbours for an impromptu braai; afterwork drinks; picnics on the beach — all this has been temporarily suspended while we stay home and help curb the spread of this frightening new disease. Luckily, we South Africans are a resilient bunch; we can totally do this. We survived the drought and Jacob Zuma and we cope with load-shedding. This is bigger and scarier, but it doesn’t mean we won’t get through it. We need to put on our SA-flag panties, Faf-style, and be brave patriots united in a common cause.
Do the Stuff You Never Have Time to Do
Tupperware cupboard, here’s looking at you. We all know how much jollier life would be if the tupperware had lids, but can we drag ourselves away from Netflix long enough to find them? No. Well, here is your time. And the cushion covers that need washing and the linen you haven’t used for 10 years. Wash the stuff that needs washing, and put the stuff you no longer need in a bag to be given away. It’s just taking up cupboard space. Bake a loaf of bread. Baking is so much fun. Pick flowers from your garden and put them in a Consol jar. Sort out your photograph albums and read the books in your shelf you’ve been meaning to get to for years. A deck chair in the garden is a great spot for this, and the weather just now is sublime. Pick lemons off a tree and pickle them. It’s incredibly easy and you’ll be able to make tasty Moroccan and Israeli dishes all winter long. Do things that are slow and that feed your soul. And know that, even in the midst of the worst of the worst, that this, too, shall pass.
Lance Real Estate is based in Fresnaye, Cape Town and covers the Atlantic Seaboard from the Waterfront to Camps Bay. With over 23 years’ experience in the most sought-after residential areas in Africa, Lance Real Estate has sold over R 1 billion worth of properties in the last 3 years.
It is this hands-on knowledge that sets Lance Real Estate apart from our competition. We have built an extensive database of buyers and sellers over the last 2 decades who have grown to trust our market knowledge and depend on us to negotiate the best possible deal in any property negotiation.
We are now extending our reach and taking on houses and apartments for sale from the Waterfront through to Camps Bay.
If you are looking for a remarkable agency to buy, rent or sell your property on the Atlantic Seaboard, our friendly customer care team is a phone call away.
We also have a range of holiday rentals to offer. If you appreciate beautiful African sunsets over the sea and sublime mountain views, then visit our holiday rentals section on our website.
Contact
Email: info@lancerealestate.co
Tel: +27 82 416 6103
Website: http://www.lancerealestate.co
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Photos: Proudly South African, Camps Bay High