The strangest of times. Uncertain, challenging, transformative. Yet the return to the beach in the north of the state brought with it calm and peace, and it felt good to pause and reflect in a place that had not changed much, on the surface at least.
Major lockdown restrictions due to a hotspot only a stones throw away had changed the life perspectives of people in the area, and it made it apparent, that even the most hidden away, quiet of beach villages on a little island at the bottom of Australia had not been spared the behavioural and life impacts of COVID-19.
Walking along the beach most days, the feelings of gratitude for being safe and healthy and having such beauty around me, whilst at the same time feeling guilty for having those same things, when I know other people do not, made me feel somewhat conflicted. How can the shit possibly be hitting the fan so profoundly globally, yet there is nothing telling me this is the case in front of my eyes!
Self care is important in difficult times, as is acknowledging that those conflicting feelings above are not mutually exclusive. It’s ok to look after your own well-being and giving yourself a break from the constancy and intensity of this time, and at the same time feel sympathy and helping others who are not in the same situation. Like the beach at Hawley, people may appear fine on the surface, yet each of us have our own circumstances and challenges which make up our story, and we can all do well to remind ourselves of that this year.
CHRISTINA NIELSEN FOTOGRAFI 