Practicing Gratitude
COVID-19 “Holiday” Journal – 23 March 2020 There’s being grateful and then there’s the practice of gratitude. I’ve found it helpful to make a habit of reminding myself of things I’m thankful for. Here are some reflections on my experience of that habit, on Day 6 of my “holiday” away from other people during the…
3 Things You Need to Keep Going
COVID-19 “Holiday” Journal – 22 March 2020 I decided not to call this a video “diary”, because that causes too much self-analysis and introspection. Instead, I’m focusing on thoughts that might help people keep happy and content during a time like this. This time I talk about three things that you need to make sure…
Caring for yourself in isolation
COVID-19 “Holiday” Journal – 19 March Days are long when you can’t go anywhere or see anyone. I’ve become quite well-practised at coping with those kind of long days. So, here are some of my thoughts to try and help you think it through if you end up in a similar situation, so that you…
Going away for a while
COVID-19 “Holiday” Journal – 18 March Well, after saying that the current situation with the coronavirus didn’t worry me, it still doesn’t. But, in order to cause less stress for my family, I’ve agreed to separate myself for a while. And I’m trying to keep a video journal to keep track of some reflections during…
Thoughts on COVID-19 from one of the “weak and vulnerable”
My Allograft 2018-20 – 36. 16th March 2020 By Andy Burrows, 16 March 2020 I guess with all the news going around about the coronavirus and COVID-19 you may have been wondering how I was feeling about the whole thing. I mean, when they talk about the “weak and vulnerable” or those “with underlying health…
Home isn’t where I thought it was…
My Allograft 2018/19 – 35. 7th February 2020 By Andy Burrows, 7 February 2020 I’ve been pondering this for a few weeks. I think I’m coming to a point where these allograft updates need to fizzle out (although I “never say never”!). But to be honest, it’s a struggle to know what to say. Why…
Strength for today
My Allograft 2018/19 – 34. 7 December 2019 By Andy Burrows, 7 December 2019 Just after I last came home from a stay in hospital, almost two months ago, I was feeling emotionally fragile. I was wobbly, shaky, fuzzy-headed, and the fact that there seemed to be no end to it was getting to me.…
Getting physical
My Allograft 2018/19 – 33. 23 November 2019 By Andy Burrows, 23 November 2019 When is the crowd the loudest? In endurance races, have you ever noticed when the crowd cheers the athletes on the most? And personal trainers and sports coaches – when do they give the most encouragement? When do they shout, “you…
And, at last, onwards again
My Allograft 2018/19 – 32. 10th November 2019 By Andy Burrows, 10 November 2019 Living with limbo I’ve been holding off posting an update until certain things played themselves out. And the fact that it’s now a month since my last update gives a measure of the limbo I’ve lived with during that time, day…
Trying to break the cycle
My Allograft 2018/19 – 31. 12th October 2019 By Andy Burrows, 12 October 2019 Something’s just not quite right I must apologise up front for such a long update. It felt like recent events unfolded quite subtly and slowly, and I wanted to see how things played out (and whether they turned out to be…