It’s easy (and understandable) to become trapped in negative thinking at times like this – stuck at home, isolated, and unsure of the future. But the smallest action, daily ritual or mantra can be a perfect and priceless antidote.
We’re asking members of our UNE community to share with us what is bringing them joy and hope.
“For me, the joy right now comes from learning how to be a new parent and really enjoying watching our little boy Sidney grow and explore new things each day,” says Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Co-director of the Centre for Rural Criminology, Dr Kyle Mulrooney.
“My partner Katinka (van de Ven, who also lectures in criminology at UNE) is from the Netherlands and I am from Canada, so the gap between our respective families has been widened further by COVID.
“Despite this, we have found joy in our daily ritual of FaceTime with Nanny and Poppy in Canada in the morning, and Oma and Opa in the Netherlands at night. Sid’s face lights up every time he sees his grandparents on the screen, and it has been amazing watching as he comes to recognise their faces and voices.
“We are all looking forward to the day he can meet them in person, but we are so thankful for such technology in these times.”
This picture of Sid was taken during his bath while Oma sang ‘In de maneschijn’.
