LifeLine Vaal Triangle – Food for thought …
Time for introspection! That is what this lockdown has brought to us – maybe this was meant to be! They say “all things happen for good reasons” and perhaps this was the time!
Life will never be the same again – and it should not! We have had plenty of time on our hands – alone time – to make good use of it. We are always saying we don’t have time – bit this is something you cannot say now, unless you have not been doing your bit for Covid-19!!!
This time we have had, I think, has brought out many hidden talents! How many people have been baking, cooking, sewing, gardening, decorating, doing home-schooling, DIY and plenty more!!! Things, I am sure, you did not know you could do – just shows what necessity or boredom can do for you!
What habits have you given up? Smoking, drinking, watching TV at every spare moment, couch potato-ing, putting off for tomorrow what you could have done today? Lessons should and could have been learned during this time.
What we did see was an increase in GBV (Gender Based Violence)!!! Our Shelter was empty on the day the lockdown was announced and within a week it was filled to the brim!!!! A very sad state of affairs! Why is this? Can couples no longer bear to be in each other’s company? What has gone? Where is the “love” that brought you together? What has changed – life? Situations? Boredom? Mundane existence? Too many possessions – not enough reason to plan for the future – everything has come too easy? Big houses (not homes?) – no gardens, no pets, too many vehicles and “toys”. Too much stuff – nothing between the ears! Nothing in common? Not even kids – someone else’s responsibility? Step fathers, stepmothers – no fathers (absent!!!)! No commitments, no permanency, no responsibility, no respect , no communication! NO ROLE MODELS!
Who uses a dining-room table??? Do you even have one? Do you sit together as a family – at least once a day for a meal? Do you know what your partner (Dare I say husband or wife??) does all day, how his/her day was, do you know what your children do all day, do you know who their friends are and what they do? What interests do the family members have, what are their goals and inspirations, what do the children want to do when they leave school? These are some of the things that will and can be talked about over a meal – instead of sitting slouched on the couch in front of the TV and glued to the box! TRY IT!!! At least one meal a day at the table – it will do wonders for the relationships!
Communication is key to the very heart of the family – everyone needs to be able to communicate freely! Have date nights/days with your partner, with your children – one at a time! Get to know them and how they “tick”!!! They can be a milkshake or a coffee date, a picnic – in the garden if necessary! Anything that will give you “me/our” time with the other party!
These are all things that EVERYONE should KNOW and if you don’t know, FIND OUT!!!!!!!
LET THIS LOCKDOWN HAVE MEANING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY – don’t wast a moment! Make the changes – it is never too late.
AND LIFELINE CAN HELP! Contact us to set up an appointment – get started and see the difference!
By Colleen Rogers, Lifeline Vaal Triangle