I’m four days into a break from work. My stress levels have been quite high and I’m looking forward to unwinding a bit by being productive. I’ve an egg stand to build, a garden to help sort, and a kitchen that needs a deep clean and reorganisation. Staying busy is key as I can’t tolerate having too much time to think at the moment. While I’ve mostly learned to live with the din of uncertainty, recent political events have put me back into fight or flight mode. It’s not a sustainable way to live.
I’ve decided that ignorance is the best way forward. It has taken a few hard lessons to knock me into this position, but I do feel I can step away from being informed now, because if the last three years have taught me anything, it’s that too much information is worrying and in no way beneficial.
As of today, I am no closer to knowing the outcome of the EU vote than I was on June 24, 2016. Sure, a lot has happened, but looking back, none of it mattered. We are no further forward than we were, yet I have borrowed enough worry to last me a lifetime. New prime ministers, general elections, deals with NI troglodytes, votes in the Commons, votes in the Lords, cabinet resignations, leadership contests, inaction from the opposition – none of this made one bit of difference, but I agonised over all of it. Looking back, I’ve no idea what I was thinking. What a waste of time and energy, though.
It’s time to cocoon myself in my own world now. No more searching the news for any glimmer of hope because the hope now has to come from within. I’ve spent the last 18 months working on reducing the impact of Brexit on my business and my life, and I’m in a much better position to protect myself and my family from catastrophic fallout, and I’ll do more between now and October.
I hope I’m not judged harshly for becoming a bit selfish about it all, because I really did give it the college try. I fought for as long as I could, did my best to warn people about the dire consequences, and worked with others who were trying to do the same. But it’s time to put my energy into more positive endeavours. Stopping Brexit can’t be my priority any longer. Getting Scotland out of this toxic union is the only way forward, and that’s where my finite energy will go.
Fig and Pen 
What’s an egg stand?
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It’s a small farmers-market type stand I plan to use to sell eggs. We keep hens and have far too many eggs. I hope to have some photos soon!
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I think you are quite right, Elizabeth, in putting your energies into more positive endeavours. All the negativity of Brexit is very wearing indeed. I am interested in what you have been able to do to protect your business and yourself against Brexit. Are you able to give us an example? Thanks.
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Hi David. The biggest thing I’ve done is pay down my mortgage. Just one more little push and it’ll be completely paid off in September – a full eight years early. Having this security has taken a lot of the burden off. Also, I’ve made arrangements with my landlord to give up one of the two properties I lease from him so that I can quickly downsize. This will save a huge chunk of rent money and bring me under the council rates threshold so I’ll have no rates to pay at all.
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Thanks for your reply, Elizabeth, both good things to do.
As a non business person, when I hear talk of the disaster Brexit is expected to bring, I often wonder what, if anything, can be done to protect ones business, particularly international trade business, from the fall out of a bad deal/no deal situation and if nothing can be done does the business just go to the wall?
I realise these questions are pretty naive of me but when I hear businesses talking of making preparations for a no deal Brexit I wonder if they are just intending to close up shop and retreat to a Buddhist sanctuary!
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Not naive at all. Your assessment is correct. Many companies will go into a rapid decline. 66% of my business goes to the EU, so it will hit us hard. My hope is that I can downsize and rely on the U.K. market. I’ll have to lose most of my staff, but I can probably eek out a living with family members as my only employees. If that fails, I’ll have to asset strip my business. What a horrible thought.
I think many businesses will either close or relocate, and some will be quite shocked to find Brexit so detrimental. I’ve spoken with several who have no idea how the knock-on effect will harm them. One suggested I simply switch my supply chains to U.K. suppliers, but I’m not sure where I’ll find UK coconut oil!
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Horrible thoughts indeed.
I hope whatever happens your egg-stands are a hit and you are able to find some locally sourced coconut oil!
Keep fighting the good fight.
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Thanks, David!
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