2020 – “The Great Pandemic” OR “The Year of Humanity”?

Something I’ve noticed about people is that when we’re not stressed, we’re great and generally far better versions of ourselves than when we’re in fear. What happens when we’re in fear or threatened is that we become survival-focussed and our concern for others diminishes and sometimes even disappears from view. We become energetically smaller and we disconnect. We suffer and we often cause others to suffer as well. And it eats us away inside.

So when we’ve got fodder for a media feeding frenzy, like a pandemic, we’ve got a really fantastic opportunity to see what we’re really made of, as an individual, as a family and as a society. When we “potentially” face the possibility of losing a loved one (which actually is always there), the stakes appear to become real and high. We feel out of control and, even if so far we're managing really well, we get drawn into the panic when we’re afraid of going to the toilet, because people are stockpiling toilet paper. Every man for himself (and women!). Et tu Brute? Ei ei ei

So here we are. How low will we go? OR will we see humanity shine through the darkness as we realise that perhaps, if we all work together, we can get through this and look back to celebrate what we discovered about our true humanity. Makes me think of recessions when, in some companies, employers and employees put aside "their rights"and worked out a solution together; where everyone looked after everyone e.g. went part time and took annual leave to get through etc.

How can we look after each other through this societal challenge? We’ve currently got doctors scouring Bunnings, to no avail, for face masks and facing the possibility of having to close their practices. Whoops! That backfired. We’ve got a tourism industry reeling from the bushfires and now this. We’ve got every business and organisation that bring people together, wondering how they’ll survive a period of imposed isolation. By the way, that accounts for just about every workplace, school and yoga studio.

So what’s the goal here people?

If you knew that I was interested in your survival, would you be less inclined to buy all of the hand sanitiser for yourself? If you knew that I’ll commit to paying for my yoga classes even if I’d rather not come for a bit, would you relax and feel less out of control? If you knew that I will do everything I can to protect you and your loved ones from exposure to my germs (infected or otherwise) would you feel safe to come out in public? If my Homestay hosts in Ubud knew that I will pay for my accommodation anyway, even if I choose to stay home, will they rest easy and focus on looking after others?

I wonder what we could come up with together, to show how humanity shines brightly… and to make 2020 a year to revere.

Love to know your ideas