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Good morning. As each day in lockdown goes by, we’re becoming more and more aware of the impact that the coronavirus is having on us. Mandatory social isolation over the past month means that so many of us haven’t physically spent time with our parents, our children, our relatives or friends for some time now. We’ve also seen the terrible impact COVID-19 has had on NHS workers and many others. In the news this morning is the death of Manjeet Singh Riyat, the first Sikh A&E Consultant in the country, being the latest tragic example of an heroic sacrifice on the frontline. His colleagues spoke so warmly of him, with one saying “For many, Manjeet was considered the father of the current Emergency Department in Derby and many more will reflect on how his inspiration has shaped their own careers.” His death reminds us of the risks medical professionals are taking every day. Many others across the country are also doing what they can to help those in need. In my own community, for example, several gurdwaras in the UK have repurposed their langar kitchens to provide cooked or dry food for the vulnerable and for NHS workers. This desire to put other’s needs before our own and to help during isolation reminds me of the Sikh concept of Chardi Kala. It’s the idea of staying in a helpful and positive frame of mind at all times, even in the face of the present difficulties and adversities. That’s why many doctors, nurses and those in care homes are able to put their lives at risk to help those in desperate need. That’s why local volunteer groups are working hard to support those more vulnerable than themselves. That’s why we come together as a nation every Thursday evening to clap for our carers. This belief in Chardi Kala doesn’t take away from the tragedies in life. We all have painful times and experience great hardships, and those cannot be ignored or dismissed. But if we can retain a positive outlook, it allows us to channel the negative energies and make them into something transformative. We need to focus our attention on taking pleasure in the small things in our lives, such as spending quality time with our families. Ultimately, it gives us optimism and hope for the future, no matter how dark today may feel. These are difficult times, and our mental health is being greatly impacted by matters beyond our control, but for me it is more important than ever to bear in mind these words of the 1st Sikh Guru, which form part of the daily prayer of supplication or Ardas, and is recited in joy and in sadness: “Nanak says with the Almighty’s name comes Chardi Kala, an ever positive state of mind” and with those blessings, he continues: may there be peace, prosperity and wellbeing for everyone in the world.”