"The war had been a total war; it had affected everyone, and no one was immune from its impact.  At the start, the outlook seemed bleak, the end distant, the outcome uncertain. But our streets are not empty; they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other.”  Words taken from the Queen’s speech on VE Day apply nearly as much to us now as they did then.

My mum was 11 on VE Day.  Her best friend died when she was 7 because the houses opposite to where she lived were bombed and my mother’s house spared.  Yet she still looks back to her childhood with fondness not anger. 

One day, despite the obvious anxieties about health and finances, many people may look back to this lockdown era with positive thoughts on the lifestyle benefits of the lockdown.  How many times have people said that life was too busy and that they would like to stop the world for a while so they could catch up?  In the last few weeks many areas of the world have paused and people have had a chance to stop, think and literally catch up.

Many have benefited from this enforced rest.  A combination of physical and mental relaxation for many, not all.  We have given our bodies a break and a chance to recuperate.  Some are feeling better than they have for years.

Cupboards decluttered,  items mended or thrown, repairing things around the home, the sewing and ironing backlog no longer a stress point.  Now the backlog of domestic jobs have eased, you can feel calmer.

Reading has increased, many have introduced regular exercise into their day, whether it be a gentle walk to the beach, park or around town or for the fitter amongst us, a run, a bike ride on less busy roads or a walk up the rock.  Swimming is the excuse to use the beach so new people have chosen to swim.

With no opportunity to eat out we are home cooking more than ever, borne out by the lack of some ingredients on the shelves (for example flour and yeast are not as easy to come by as they used to be).  We are quite possibly eating a more healthy diet as well, with less processed, over salted, over sweetened food and more basic ingredients.  Back closer to mother nature.

There is no longer a pressure to attend social gatherings.  This is a mixed blessing, as many will miss the opportunity to see friends and family.  However it does give you more free time to pursue your own interests and we are no longer racing around trying to accommodate all the people we need to see at all the events that fill our busy lives.

Most of us are spending less and maybe this shows that we need less to live a happy life.  Which in turn means we don't have to earn as much, or work as hard or such long hours.

We have been reminded how important community spirit is and we have had time to look out for others who need help.  When we have more free time we are more willing to give some of it to the common good.

Within our own families, those living together will have had the opportunity to share some memorable experiences (hopefully mostly good!).  Cooking and eating together, playing family games or doing a jigsaw.  Memories of 'lockdown' will be good memories for many people.

We should not underestimate the value of some of the positive changes to our lives.  Even local politicians have promised less hostile interactions once parliament resumes.  We have had the opportunity to take a step back, take stock of our lives and evaluate what is important to us.  How we want to live our lives and how we really want to spend our time may have taken a sideways step from what seemed important to us before lockdown.

Maybe it's time to remember that we work to live, not live to work.

Of course, not everyone has benefited, and certainly not those who have lost loved ones, lost a job or suffered anxiety or mental illnesses.

But for many, our streets have not been empty, they have been filled with the love and the care that we have for each other.

Let’s not forget the positive side of lockdown and just as my mum looks back fondly at her wartime childhood for the many blessings that she did experience, we can look back on this pause with happiness and positive reflection.

Footnote

Gibraltar National Archives has pieced together an online video of 18 minutes commemorating Gibraltar’s role during the war leading up to VE Day.

The picture accompanying this blog is my mum's house in the UK on VE75 Day.  She's very proud of Queen and country.