It’s the waiting game isn’t it?
We’ve been warned for days now that a tropical cyclone is going to hit South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
It was thought it would make landfall sometime today (Thursday).
We had been in the Blue Mountains celebrating my husband’s 60th birthday, and were due to drive the final leg back home today.
But then there were all the warnings.
Prepare now.
Secure anything loose outside.
We decided to drive back a day early.
Then more warnings.
Prepare now.
We decided to skip the last two nights of our holiday and drive back on Tuesday.
It was a good decision.
The 700+kms drive back wasn’t great.
Cruelled by endless roadworks, and hitting the Ipswich and Brisbane traffic bang on rush hour.
But we were home safely and had the whole of Wednesday to prepare.
The predicted landfall of TC Alfred had now blown out to sometime Friday morning.
Great a bit more time to ensure we’d done everything we could.
Now, on Thursday, we are told it could be the early hours of Saturday before it arrives.
Two more days.
For me, it’s this not knowing.
Not knowing when.
Not knowing what it will be like.
I’m feeling anxious.
I don’t want it to hit.
But I want it over.
Gone.
The longer we wait, the more I can feel my anxiety increasing.
When I feel like this, it’s hard for me to do any focused breathwork.
I can feel my heart rate racing.
So I’m relying on my basic mindfulness practice of grounding.
What can I see, hear and feel?
Feeling the air on my skin.
Noticing if it’s cool or warm.
Watching the movement in the trees and the insects scurrying around on the ground.
Listening to the various beautiful birdsongs, and traffic in the distance.
When Alfred decides to visit we’ll certainly know about it.
Let’s hope he keeps his visit brief.
We just have to wait it out.
Wishing everyone a safe passage through this difficult time.
Ann 🙏