In these crazy times I’ve noticed a
very quick change both personally and across the community. Initial feelings of
loss of all the things I can no longer do – being forced to work from home,
losing the social connections and regular activities with friends etc; have
given way towards one of acceptance and seeing what other things I can do. A
lot of the running around to do things have gone and now life is simpler, more
quiet, and reflective.
This sudden jolt has forced a rethink
on many scales, to see life through new eyes. Lo and behold there is so much
awaiting – time do things we have longed to do but were denying from a lack of
time.
Personally I’m both grateful for
having job security and for being of good health. I am well aware of the pain
of others who aren’t as lucky as I and there is a gross under-reporting of
suffering in developing countries.
This rapid
change in our community is in contrast to the frustration at the lack of action
on climate change even when the extreme fires were in full swing just months
ago.
There are
many signs of hope emerging:
·
People
are acting in the common good not just for themselves by following physical
distancing.
·
Creative
ways of thinking and being abound: our stuffed welsh dragon in the window is
part of the community teddy bear in the window for kids to find on their bear
hunt as they walk in the neighbourhood. What started as a whacky local idea has
spread around the world.
·
People
are reaching out to old friends especially those who live alone and might need
some contact.
·
Working
from home has rapidly become workable for many and .
·
Families
are spending more time together and looking after each other (though life in
close proximity can increase conflict).
·
Politicians
are saying things like ‘we need to trust the science’ and ‘we are all in this
together’ and making provisions for supporting those who have fallen on
misfortune.
I can’t help thinking that this grand
malaise is what the world has needed. As this quote from somewhere online says-
"Kinda feel like the Earth just sent
us all to our rooms to think about what we've done."
The
environment seemingly is breathing a sigh of relief. Pollution levels are down,
traffic is down, birds are appearing where they haven’t been seen before,
people are out planting, etc.
The communal
slowdown is breaking the global economic model of ongoing consumption. Someone
likened it to a hibernation, going inwards over winter. Conversations are
turning to what we might do differently when we do emerge from this. ‘What will
do differently when this is over?’
The real
threat is that we return to the ‘business as usual’ economic model. But after a
hibernation there is emergence in spring and not a return to autumn.
Undoubtedly how we are living now will reshape our future. In what way depends
on so many factors that make it hard to predict. Certainly the longer we are in
hibernation the longer there will be new and creative changes that will take
hold. The working from home model will be entrenched that commuting will
decrease alleviating transportation requirements and I’m sure education models
will be revamped as well.
Not all is
hopeful though as some of the positive ways of life we had may also go as the corporate world demand extra favours to rebuild the economic model. Workers rights
maybe traded away; environmental regulations (red tape and restrictions) swept
away; the screen dependent lifestyle may keep kids inside all day.
So as we
live in the great slow-down I encourage a reflection of how we might take some
of our positive lifestyle changes and share how we can make these to become a
part of our post hibernation world both on a personal level and across our
global community.
Photo: our dragon ted in the window
Image: From Fear to Learning to Growth Courtesy: Carla Hickman https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2798525580267711&set=a.380053245448302&type=3&theater
