Author Archives: Karen Reyburn

I started this sketch with the words: “There is no normal. We are not going back to normal. We never had normal.” And then I thought about it, and realised making sweeping statements isn’t quite what I want to do here. After all, some people really do want to “go back to normal”. Maybe you’ve

On Monday, for the first time in four months I was able to go somewhere besides my local walks. Those local walking paths have served me well during lockdown. I got the fresh air, some space, daily processing of all the thoughts. But I missed the freedom to get in the car and go far

I listened to episode one of Brene Brown’s podcast, Unlocking Us, yesterday. It has taken me – literally, exactly – three months to click play. (The episode is dated 20th March.) I knew it was going to be good. I have read several of Brene’s books (and watched her TED talks and netflix documentary) and

Last weekend a friend came round and we just sat out on the back deck all afternoon. Talking, watching the breezes move the trees, eating lunch, listening to music. We were talking about things we miss, and one of my greatest ones is travel. Not the constant travel – I’m getting my eyes opened to

The comparison game. Sort of the least-fun game ever. It has become very real to me in the past few weeks and months. It’s always been real: I’ve always struggled with feeling ‘less than’ in my areas of perceived weakness. Or fear. Or confusion. But at this time all our fears and confusions and weaknesses

“I’ll do it when I have time.” Okay so we’ve all had THIS excuse blown out of the water and revealed for the excuse it always was. Because unless you’re a care worker for your country’s health service, the fact is we all have a little more time here and there (and some people have

There’s a lot of “it’s going to be okay” messages going around. In one sense, there’s truth in it. There have been crises before – of differing natures and time periods than this one, with different repercussions – and the world and its humanity are still here. So it’s very likely we – the communal,

  Dear Covid-19, We accept the fact that we’ve had to sacrifice a whole month in lockdown for whatever it is we did wrong, but we think you’re crazy for making us believe who you think we are. You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest terms, in the most convenient

“Please remember to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” I’ve heard that when flying (back in THOSE days) more times than I can count. It makes good sense. No point trying to save others (particularly those smaller or younger than you, or who might be in trouble in some way) if you’re