A World Rattled

This blog is a little longer than those that I usually write, but there are just so many questions right now!! So in the last few months the world has rapidly been turned upside down with this coronavirus. The Corona Virus COVID-19 is an enemy of humanity regardless of your race, religion or gender. For us in South Africa, we are only seeing the start of it in the last two weeks or so. After what has happened in China and what has been happening in Europe, I am very grateful that the South African government has moved quickly to put containment procedures in place, in an orderly and responsible manner. I hope it is enough.

Due to numerous corruption and economic problems, South Africa has an additional circumstance that is to our disadvantage. We have an economy, social systems and social conditions that are already under strain. There are times when we do not have sufficient power (electricity). As a result, when our power grid is under strain, we have scheduled rolling blackouts across the country. It is safe to say that we live in times of much less certainty. It is important for you to understand my perspective, as a South African, when reading this, because all people around the world live different lifestyles, in different climates and with different levels of certainty, so it is not always easy to compare, but I am sure there is a lot to which you can relate.

This past weekend, with the coronavirus freshly having hit our shores, during a period of a blackout, I was sitting at the swimming pool of the building where I live. It was the middle of the day, but it was quiet. I was feeling stressed about our collective responsibility as a society, how the country would handle this crisis and the uncertainty that lay ahead. I thought to myself, “What are the lessons in this? What are we meant to learn?” Then it hit me how quiet it was. The electricity was out, and I wasn’t around anyone, and that this was going to be the new reality for (hopefully) a short while.

As a health and wellness coach, when I speak about health and wellness, I always make mention of how distracted we are by technology; how we are connected electronically but disconnected socially. Around the world, there has been a disruption with this coronavirus. People are starting to reprioritise, to be able to cope with the new reality. Some people are becoming more understanding when their demands are not met, because of this disruption. People are spending more time with their families, whether they are in quarantine or just at home because of social distancing. I thought to myself, this is a great opportunity to take this disruption, realign our priorities and make beneficial changes to our lifestyle, so that when life goes “back to normal” we can resume with a new normal; an improved normal. We are forced to stop and think, so let’s use it to our advantage. Below are four things to consider for our futures:

1. A polarising time and a unifying time

Because of the severity of this outbreak, as well as its reach, some people have gone into panic-mode, thinking only of themselves and their families. They are understandably fearful and stock up on supplies with no concern for others who would need similar supplies. They buy way more than they will need. There are many people, however, who understand that we are all affected by these circumstances. There is a sense of humanity. People recognise our commonality and put differences aside. We all live in this world together. What can we do to support each other, make all our lives easier and, in turn, create trusting and supportive relationships? Work to the good. Think of others. Build relationships. Unity has a far stronger impact than division. History will judge us and the quality of our futures depend on our cooperation and collaboration.

2. Prioritising

Given the severity of the situation, along with fallout in the health sector, in the economy and in the service delivery markets, how have we assessed what lies ahead? When survival or the perception of survival is real, what is important to you? Do your daily habits and actions reflect the things that are important to you? These are questions we should be asking ourselves. Who are the people that you are spending time with and are they people you aim to spend time with? Often we run around chasing our tails to be happy in the future, to plan for the future. The future will always be in the future. Enjoy today, see the value in today. Build on each present moment to uplift your future present.

3. Self-care

It is important to take good physical, mental and emotional care of yourself. However, is this at the expense of others or is this to replenish yourself, to give support to others? We are social beings. This is why this time is particularly hard. We are not participating in the world and with each other in ways that we are used to. Our physical, emotional and mental states all feed on each other. Feed them what is nourishing, not that which taints it. Think of practical things that you can do on a daily basis to improve your well-being. We have so much extra time in the day, now that a lot of travel time has been reduced and work has slowed down a bit. Use it to the advantage of your well-being.

4. Creating new habits

Our lives have been disrupted and we are creatures of habit. One of our survival mechanisms is to be on alert for threats, which is why we do not like uncertainty. We will all bring some certainty back into our lives by creating a “new normal” through new habits. Take care to recognise what daily habits you are developing and if they are to your benefit or detriment. A good amount of sleep is highly undervalued and extremely beneficial to our emotional and mental well-being. Exercise is also essential to keep our bodies resilient and youthful. Find fun ways to be physical that you may not have considered before.

These are a few of many possibilities. In summary, our lives have been given a jolt. I think we should look at it as wake-up call that humanity sorely needs. It is to no-one’s benefit to be angry about it. The whole world is affected. Unity will get us through more easily, so consider how you can contribute in your daily movements and actions to be part of the solution and not a barrier. There has never been more of a time, in recent history, where selflessness and looking out for your fellow human-being should be practiced. Take care of each other.