The Things That Keep Us Going
- Daisy Steel
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
I’ve spent quite a lot of time in hospitals lately.
At one point, it felt as though I was permanently packing a bag, checking my phone and preparing for another worrying conversation with a doctor. My husband suffered a stroke, my mum has had a couple of hospital stays, and there have been moments when life seemed determined to remind me that none of us are getting any younger.
It’s been exhausting, frightening and, at times, completely overwhelming.
Which is perhaps why I’ve also spent an unusual amount of time dressed as other people.
The Healing Power of Fancy Dress
When life gets serious, it turns out there is something wonderfully restorative about putting on a costume.
First, I found myself playing a lady motorist in Wind in the Willows. The production, organised by the endlessly energetic Abigail Moore, brought people together of all ages and experience for a joyful outdoor performance in the middle of the Somerset countryside. There I was, dressed in goggles and tweed, channelling my inner Dorothy Levitt, with my great friend Kate trying to look as though we belonged on stage for a day. It was enormous fun and a welcome distraction from everything else that was going on.
Then, for the podcast, Sonia, Becky and I spent an afternoon at Bath Theatrical Costume Hire exploring the idea that dressing up might actually help us to de-stress. I arrived slightly sceptical and left wondering whether they might be onto something. There is something surprisingly freeing about donning a bonnet and gown and becoming Scarlett O’Hara for an afternoon.
As if that wasn’t enough, Sonia and I joined a crowd of Kate Bushes on Catherine Hill last Saturday. Alongside dozens of other women (and a few men) in black wigs and grey dresses, we danced to Running Up That Hill as part of a flashmob, organised by Ginny from Mojo Moves. If anyone had told me a year ago that this would be one of the highlights of my social calendar, I would never have believed them!
Family, Friends and Community
There were quieter moments too.
Going to my granddaughter Ren’s christening was a reminder that life isn’t only about the difficult chapters. Seeing the whole family gathered together in a church that’s witnessed generations of Steel family celebrations, weddings and farewells felt incredibly special. Ren, naturally, stole the show, nose diving into the font, toppling over a giant candle and generally keeping the vicar on his toes. She’ll go far.
The podcast has also brought me into contact with some extraordinary people. This month’s Local Legend, Ginny Parratt from Cats in Distress, is one of those women who quietly gets on with making the world a better place, one rescued cat at a time.
The Things That Keep Us Going
What I’ve realised through all of this is that life rarely arrives in neat chapters. Joy and worry tend to turn up together. One day you’re sitting beside a hospital bed. The next you’re wearing a wig and dancing up Catherine Hill.
Perhaps that’s why connection matters so much. Friends who check in. Family who rally round. Volunteers who give up their time. The people who create opportunities for laughter and shared joy when we need them most.
The serious things demand our attention. But the silly things help us survive them.
And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
Written by Daisy Steel.
Journalist, columnist and podcaster
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