Life requires us to be more tolerant now than ever before. If we get into “judgement mode” it perpetuates the fear of making wrong decisions, as well as fuelling resentment, anger, repression, angst and loss of freedom.

Of course, all choices have consequences

We may agonise over each choice and torture ourselves with what’s “right” and what’s “wrong” but, right now, it feels like one certain consequence will be criticism.

Today Nik and I chose to return to the high fells for the first time since before lockdown. I don’t feel the need to justify, because we’d thought it all through carefully. I will say though, that we were miles, not metres, from the nearest other folk, made sure to avoid farm buildings and did not travel very far. We also decided that we would not return to climbing, yet.

That said, if you went climbing today, then I salute you.

If you chose to stay in your garden today, I also salute you.

In fact, whatever choice you made today, so long as it was the right one for you, and didn’t harm anyone else in the process, then I salute you.

However, if you chose to continue restricting your own freedom, because you fear criticism, and that decision has made you feel resentful then please don’t judge me.

Life requires us to be more tolerant now than ever before and if we get into “judgement mode” it simply perpetuates the fear of making the wrong decisions, as well as fuelling more resentment, anger, repression, angst and loss of freedom.

There is so much to fear, so much uncertainty on the horizon and we have so much loss to process. Plus working from home, with all the distractions and virtual meetings, means that total “burn out” has never loomed so close.  So, it’s even more important to seize every chance you can to do something that makes your heart sing. 

Trust yourself.