Raising Money For The NHS!

Two of our wonderful colleagues from Tesco, Rachel and Zoey put on a wonderful performance of popular music on Friday, as all of us did our best to raise money for our NHS. Up and down the country everyone has been doing something to support our health care workers on the frontline, dealing with the spectre of COVID-19. Clapping at 8am on a Thursday for the NHS, Colonel Tom raising over thirty million pounds for health service charities and the Health Secretary hosting daily press briefings have all become part of our daily lives; so much has changed in such a short space of time!

Most of the staff working on Friday wore brightly coloured clothes, matching perfectly with the rainbow drawings now adorning the windows at the front of the superstore. Local children have been painting pictures, making collages and colouring in rainbows, the new symbol of hope in this Coronavirus pandemic. The weather on Friday was decidedly changeable, bright sunny spells, with intermittent heavy rain, producing the odd rainbow or two; quite apt, while we collected money and rattled buckets trying to attract customers attention as they entered and left the store!

Rachel and Zoey were truly fantastic this Friday. These two girls have come to Tesco to help us during this crisis, both of whom have come from other careers, furloughed during this time. The entertainment industries loss is our gain and I for one am delighted they are with us for the duration.  We have many new employees from all walks of life, all wanting to work and all bringing something special to Tesco. I have been impressed by the way they have settled in and become part of the family.

On Friday, my spirit was lifted in a way it hasn't been for a few months now. The truth is I haven't even listened to music myself, because I just can't bring myself to 'feel happy!' For some reason I thought it is wrong to feel upbeat and positive at the moment, so I have sunk deeper and deeper into a kind of anxiety loop. When you suffer with anxiety, it is hard to break that feeling of hopelessness, especially at the moment.

I'm a person who suffers with health anxiety, living in the middle of a pandemic; in my eyes, what could be worse? It wasn't that long ago that I was at the Doctors surgery on a weekly basis for some ailment or another, so being told you can not attend is rather like having your life line cut off. With all NHS resources rightly directed towards fighting Coronavirus, other health concerns have to take a back seat.

Zoe and Rachel gave me a few hours of uplift and inspiration, showing me there is life during COVID, and we can enjoy ourselves a little, without feeling guilty. The music and their voices were an echo of the precious things we have lost currently, but they are also a reminder that we will get those things back and life will return to normal when this is all over.

Tesco once again did a terrific job raising money for good causes and I felt proud to be a part of that. Living in the COVID era, many of us have been encouraged to do things we wouldn't have contemplated in the past and it has given many a new outlook on life. For the most part I have been feeling low, uninterested and trapped, but there have been moments when I have felt fervent and motivated more than usual. If Friday has taught me anything, it is that we are all literally in this together, as we are frequently reminded, and I am luckier than most to be able to leave my home and work with some of the most incredible people I have ever met. Life is of course very hard for all of us now, but we should never forget that are people far worse off than us.

This is definitely the time to do all the things you wish you had done in the past, getting creative  and discovering life away from the hustle and bustle that we were once all a part of. Like Zoey and Rachel, I want to be able to look back at this period and feel content with the role I played, no matter how small it may be.

Stay safe everyone!