I became a statistic

and it wasn't by "choice"

So this week, I got Covid.

Yes, it is still a thing.

The irony of finally getting covid 19 for the first time in 22.

But it brought me back to March 2020, when the world discovered all there was to know about this new strain.

There were, of course, so many different opinions.

From those who knew more about it than the scientists, their kitchen chat at 4 a.m seemed more plausible than the chat in laboratories across the globe.

To each nation's government that made contradicting decisions week after week, we heard them all.

But at the end of the day, it came down to personal choice.

What are the choices I will make to combat this thing called Corona?

As in all things in life, our choices solely fall on ourselves.

Yes, I did "stay safe" and washed my hands, citing the alphabet, wore a mask whenever I was out in public places, and kept my 2m distance then, 1.5m and back to 2m, for months and months.

Got my vaccines and booster.

Even stayed away from relatives and loved ones as best I could, and you know what? It didn't get me (until now) Was that because I made all the right choices? Who knows, but I made them for me, and for those I cared about.

Now at the time, I felt bulletproof amongst the numbers dying. I believed if I had got it, I would be ok.

But my main concern was the thought of passing it on, spreading it to those who may or may not be as strong as me.

That was my choice; staying in, however tedious it may have been, getting comfortable with my own company, we may never get this time back, so using the time wisely was free time I embraced it.

So each day had a plan, each walk had a different route, each bottle of wine had a different vintage, and something different was taken from each day, and that was my choice.

Why did I choose this? Because it was my time, my mental health, and my choice in how "I" would get through this.

Over two years later and hearing so many stories of people in pain, others with no symptoms, some with no smell, or taste, then others who sadly ended up a lot worse.

So when it hit me and battered me (currently on day 6), I faced more choices, but they were mine.

And watching box set after box set and eating rings around myself and resting as much as was needed was a perfect choice, I'm not going to lie.

And ill continue to do so for the whole 7+ days if required, as much as I miss the interaction with others.

The thoughts of doing something that could pass this onto someone who may pass it on to someone who is not strong enough to fight this would not sit right with me.

It would go against my values and beliefs, which are more important to me.

Choice is something we are faced with every day, and whichever choice we make, however the outcome, we will be faced with yet another choice, what to do next.

But it is our personal choice that nobody should take away from us.

We have the power to choose our happiness in every circumstance in life.

Things that DO sit right with us.

That is something we can control.

Other people's opinions and behaviors we do not.

Do what's right for you. Remember, life is precious.

Please choose how you wish to live it, and live it to the fullest.

And please Stay Safe x

thanks for reading

Marcus