Grow With: Kaz Czapski
Name: Kaz Czapski
Gifted: Songwriter, guitarist, yogi
Instagram handle: @kazczapski
Three words to describe how you’re feeling right now:
Reflective, grateful, inquisitive.
How are you being mindful of your health in this season?
I’ve been doing yoga nearly everyday and, with the improving weather in London, enjoying daily walks (avoiding other people of course!). Food has become a much bigger part of my days and I am enjoying eating healthily too.
How have you and your circle been impacted by COVID-19?
My dad, who wasn’t really showing any symptoms of the virus itself, had sudden breathing difficulties and had to call an ambulance - it passed quickly and was attributed to a post-viral infection. I only found out after it was all over, so I didn’t have time to worry too much. One friend had quite bad symptoms but has now recovered. My mum and step-dad also had mild symptoms that lasted a couple of weeks, but they are also better now. None of these have actually been tested, so it’s hard to be sure if they had it or not!
How has your work-education-life been affected so far?
I’ve been lucky to be able to spend this time with my partner, Simone. Under normal circumstances we don’t always get to be together that often, so I have been very appreciative of that aspect of this unusual time. I can still play and record guitar at home so that aspect hasn’t changed too much!
When you’ve been outside, what’s your experience been like?
I’ve found the sunshine has helped a lot - when you only really have one chance a day to go out and feel the warmth you make sure you soak it up. Central London is usually always so busy, you look at things in a different way, and notice little things you didn’t before - the shape of a building, the colours of an object. There’s still a lot of buses around which is a nice reminder of normality!
What’s keeping you in a positive state of mind in this uncertain time?
First of all, knowing that everyone I care about is well, or at least getting better. I can’t imagine how it would feel to not be able to go and see someone I loved, so I remind myself of that everyday. Less significant things - games, either by myself, with a friend online, or a board game with Simone. Immersing your mind in different worlds and stories really helps to put this current moment in perspective as a temporary reality that will pass.... Also, memes.
How are you channelling your creativity in this season?
I have been working on an instrumental song with a friend and really pleased with how it is sounding. For myself, I’ve created some little fragments of songs here and there but not anything complete (yet).
What are you grateful for in this season?
Again, the biggest thing has been knowing everyone I love is doing ok. Other things… Each morning I look out my front window at the trees across the street - when the lockdown started their leaves were just emerging, it’s been amazing seeing how quickly they have developed and become full leaves. Things may take a while to get to a new normal, but the promise of summer still makes me happy!
What world are you moving towards in this season?
I will definitely appreciate family and friends more! And even things like going to my local cafe (I miss you Timberyard!) or out for dinner will be so gratifying. I hope that everyone will be more aware, sensitive, and gentle with each other. On a wider scale, I hope that this challenges some of the normalities we were living with before - that the relative importance and value of certain jobs is not forgotten about; that some of the people supporting regressive governments and leaders reassess the problems and respective solutions they are enabling; and that it encourages cooperation on climate change and other global issues.
For people staying at home right now, any suggestions?
Listen to: Vicky Pasion! Any yoga/meditation/atmospheric chillout playlists.
Watch: The Expanse for drama, Brooklyn 99 for comedy. Youtube - Vox and Kurzgesagt both have endless videos on interesting topics.
Read: The Expanse (James S.A. Corey), Recursion (Blake Crouch), His Dark Materials / Book of Dust (Philip Pullman), The Broken Earth (N.K. Jemisin), Cloud Atlas (David Mitchell), A Memory Called Empire (Arkady Martine) Mythos / Heroes (Stephen Fry)
