How much can change in a year. Most mornings during lockdown, I’ve gone for a run through the leafy streets near my parents’ house. A couple of times I’ve thought back to this time last year, when I began most mornings in the same way – whether I was at home in London or at my parents’. Then, I was training for a 10km race in May, and every part of my life felt stretched and pressured… Work was busy; I had PhD deadlines galore; I was in the midst of organising an academic conference connected to my PhD; the charity I was a trustee for was in a very busy period; and I was trying to keep on top of my training.
One year later, my morning run is a completely different experience. I’m not training, just running for fitness, mental health and enjoyment. My PhD is submitted (praise God!), I have left behind the charity work to focus fully on my job which is busy, albeit not currently running events. And yet while I’m more single-minded and less divided between lots of different ends this time round, my days are just as full as before.
Then, life was loud and frantic. Now, it’s quiet and… while not slow, certainly more spacious.
So much has changed in one year. It’s also a year during which blogging was put on hold, as I scrambled to finish my thesis. Now it has been submitted, it feels like the perfect time to return to blogging… so here we go!
Using insights from my research, I can’t wait to continue reflecting on the Church and the parish with you. I hope you’ll stay and enjoy the journey!
Great to hear from you again Hannah and congratulations on finishing your thesis . Looking forward to discovering your insights. Go well faithful servant.