Over the past few months, the COVID-19 outbreak has, for most of us all over the world, changed our daily life in many ways. Like many of you we have been working from a home office situation and we have all had to adapt to new ways of conducting business while combining work hours with the need and desire to care for our families. Luckily I do not have the extra worry of organising a daily learning schedule and fun time for children because the daycare facilities and schools are closed. However, as I have said previously, treat this as a privilege because there might never be a time again to spend such quality time with your children and family.
The harm done by this pandemic and the handling of it by governments that have put in place mind boggling regulations, will never be known. Presidents and Prime Ministers were regarded as heroes at the beginning of the pandemic – those that took tough stances and put in place hard lockdown measures – but as time wore on their decisions became foggy and more geared towards appeasing political colleagues rather than the citizens and public that they are supposed to serve. One wonders how many of them (the leaders and their political parties) would survive a snap election. As many bury themselves in more controversy the future for them at the next voting day looks bleak. I should qualify this and say that it wouldn’t apply to those that occupy these positions in first world countries where the majority of the citizens are allowed to vote and they vote with their head and not through fear of repercussion.
We all know that we are living in challenging times and have to adapt. We have been put in a position that is beyond our control. This makes us edgy but we have to show extreme patience. More so than we are used to showing. We have to be disciplined in our behaviour, show empathy, show respect and many other attributes that we may have been lacking in the past. We have had to make hard decisions and experience all sorts of emotions. Including anxiety about health and finances, uncertainty about the length of the quarantine and lockdowns, anger over loss of control, a sense of loneliness and, ultimately, fear of the unknown.
Although, the world as we have known it is going to be very different going forward, we have to be optimistic and positive. In my June 2020 comment I emphasised think local and buy local. It is encouraging to see on various social media platforms that this same thinking is being promoted, and not for commercial gain – just for the love of the country and our fellow citizens. It would be even more encouraging if our leaders worried more about this than the feeding frenzy that they seem to be in. Imagine how exciting it would be if our unemployment rate dropped down to five per cent or even 10%. The excitement of all those companies and jobs that would have been created. The excitement of all the citizens because they have full tummies. The excitement because of all the creativity that would emanate from a positive circumstances. The excitement of corruption being curtailed and that you are willing to pay taxes and as a result the country would not have to borrow money. There are many more to mention. It is possible. We all just have to work together.
