Do you remember life before March? The one where we all dashed about and took so many things for granted.

Running through the school gates before the classroom door was shut, doing the drive by drop off at nursery to then race to your desk for 9am? 
It feels like a distant memory. 
Do you remember when you could pop to the shop? Spend a couple of hours in Primark before stopping for a coffee, and then driving home via the McDonald’s drive thru? 
It feels like a distant memory.
Do you remember when you could go to a friends house? Or have everyone over to yours? Greet them with a hug on the way in and a farewell hug on the way out? Chat face to face and not via a screen?
It feels like a distant memory.
Do you remember the luxury of a day off work, to enjoy some time by yourself, whilst knowing the kids were being educated and looked after?
It feels like a distant memory.
Do you remember the delivery driver handing you a parcel, the shopkeeper giving you back your change skin to skin, a chat with a cashier face to face and not behind a piece of plastic?
It feels like a distant memory.
Do you remember the children playing at the park, trips to the zoo or the local theme park, innocently picking up decorated stones and rocks ready to re-hide again, without worrying if they were carrying killer germs?
It feels like a distant memory.
Do you remember birthday parties held at soft play centres? Family meals at the local pub? Dancing and drinking on nights out with friends? Watching friends get married or babies being born and then welcomed into friends and families homes to cuddle them? 
It feels like a distant memory.
Do you remember when you had freedom? When you could go where you wanted, with who you wanted?
It feels like a distant memory.
You might have been saving for a rainy day. Spending too much on clothes, shoes and handbags. Dreaming of that holiday this summer. Rushing around between work, pick ups and after school clubs. Always wanting more, a need to strive for something bigger, something better. 
But what has lockdown taught me? It’s really the simple, every day things that I miss the most. Because actually, everything I yearn for now, I already had; I just didn’t take the time to appreciate it.
So coming out of the COVID-19 lockdown, I want to appreciate all of the small things and to be more grateful for what we already have. And I will never, ever take for granted a McDonalds drive-thru again because boy oh boy, have I missed those.