A new book that captures people’s reflections on life during Covid-19 has been published to raise funds for NHS charities. When The World Paused Again began life as a blog in March 2020, launched to capture people’s thoughts as the first lockdown began. A total of 75 people took part and the posts were subsequently published as a book in October 2020, raising around £600 for NHS charities. Michelle Gant, Director of The Engaging People Company, set up the blog and the book: “Writing has always been cathartic for me, and it’s something that I have been able to turn to during difficult times, and journaling particularly has helped me to process thoughts and emotions. “Which is why I thought an online journal – a blog – would be a fantastic way to help make sense of what was happening way back in spring 2020. “I decided to open the blog up to others who might find it helpful too – and I was overwhelmed with the response. By the end of it, we had enough content for a book that we could publish to raise funds for our NHS heroes.” That book was the first instalment of When the World Paused and Michelle thought that would be the end of the project. But when lockdown was announced again this year, she decided to reopen the blog. “For many people it seemed that this winter lockdown was more challenging than the previous one and once again, I thought that writing could be a useful tool to help people process what was happening. “This time, I wanted to look ahead more, and the focus was on what a pandemic taught us about living, helping people to find positivity in an uncertain and hugely challenging period of our lives. “I invited last year’s contributors to take part again and many of them were keen to do so, capturing their reflections one year on from the last time they had written. “But, it was also fantastic to see so many other people who hadn’t previously been involved want to contribute. When I closed the blog in June, 84 of us had taken part and shared our thoughts and feelings.” This included contributors from Norfolk as well as from across the UK, from places such as London, Manchester, and Tyne and Wear. There were also writers from as far afield as Holland and Abu Dhabi. And, the youngest contributor was Michelle’s daughter Thea who was aged five when she recorded her latest reflections in May this year. “When I started the blog, I was conscious that I was also capturing a moment in time for my daughter. She will only have vague recollections of the last year and I wanted to record memories for her. But I also thought she would have something to say on this time of her life. “And so I interviewed her – both this year and last – and I wrote down verbatim what she said. Her reflections, like so many in the book, moved me but made me laugh too. “I am enormously grateful to all of the contributors who have taken part and shared their thoughts quite so openly. Reading their reflections was certainly a highlight of an uncertain time.” The book, which Michelle describes as ‘moving, uplifting, and inspiring’ is on sale now priced £9.99 with all profits going to NHS charities. When The World Paused Again: What A Pandemic Taught us About living: Amazon.co.uk: Contributors, Various, Gant, Michelle: 9798497942446: Books
