Hey ,

 

in floods of tears she walks into the room.

 

Her red hair sticking to the moisture rolling down her cheeks.

 

"What's wrong Jasmine?"

 

I ask, totally expecting to hear an outburst of emotion.

 

"I feel like I'm missing out."

 

"On what?"

 

"My friends are at school and I can't see them because of lockdown"

 

Some children have returned to school here in the UK, but most are going back on the 8th of March.

 

A familiar domestic scene to many parents. It's not been easy juggling family emotions in lockdown.

 

I offer comfort by asking her about her day. 

 

Just small things...

 

What games have you played? Did you have anything nice to eat?

 

Just little things to bring her back to being grateful for what she has done today.

 

A fear of missing out (or FOMO as the marketing people call it) is easy to fall into.

 

And it can make us feel anxious. 

 

But if lockdown has taught me anything it's that appreciating what we do have is a huge form of comfort.

 

The ability to pick up my guitar and play a song. (currently learning an acoustic version of Airbag by Radiohead)

 

The benefit of being at home and being given time to learn a new skill.

 

And when I feel like I want to see my friends and family. Or go to a gig. Or the cinema (remember those!!!) I take a deep breath and remember two things:

 

1: Hope is a good thing. We will see the other side of this pandemic.

 

2: All we really have is this moment. The here and now. And we can never miss out on that. No matter how hard our thoughts might try to trick us.