By Belinda Williams
Covid-19 has posited several schools of thoughts. The leading contentions are: #TheGreatLeveler #TheLastofUS #ChangeAgent #InnovationEnabler … swinging with extremes from one end of the spectrum to the next.
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
Whatever views you hold in relation to Covid-19 and it's yet to be fully realized impact; one thing is sure, we are ALL affected – Lives and Livelihoods. But stop for a minute and consider what the takeaways are for you. How do you want to come out of this? Do you have any control?
Here are a few points to consider, that Covid-19 has really brought to the fore:
- The frailty of humanity
- The strength of solid crisis and health management
- The resilience of man
- There will be winners and losers (fortunately/unfortunately)
- The emergence of the stark realization of who/what really matters most
- The functionality of having a robust team with required skills sets
- The pragmatism and trust in having a strong leader, who listens and demonstrates high IQ and EQ
- The stripping away of the façade, as people and countries are being revealed for how they coalesce and mobilize their resources.
Now as we contend with health, social, economic and climate (onset of the arrival of the Saharan Dust) issues; we SCREAM for a vaccine or antidote. We simply need all these fixed; we want the challenges and crisis of 2020 to all end. We want to return to normalcy.
But we are now midway 2020 and we are all resigned to the notion of “expecting the unexpected”, based on all the developments to date. It will end – how and when? We are yet to realize. Understand though, that things will never be the same, we will not return to normalcy as we knew it. As we contend the ‘next-normal’, there must be some learnings for everyone. What will be your biggest lesson and how will you emerge post-Covid and 2020?
One thing I can posit is that Covid-19 is not the great leveler. We all won’t come away from this “even”, much less equal. So those who are contending things will be linear, consider this:
- We have Low-Middle-High income earners and at the top of this sit those who are the payees/bosses.
- The low and middle are seeing deterioration in their income and savings; high are experiencing shifts in their portfolios, but they are managing with some creative and prudent pivots. Equally they (the high) may even be experiencing increase, alongside the bosses, as they spend less on travelling/excursions, dining, social activities etc. So is this level? Where do you sit?
Again, there will be winners and losers – which will you be? Is there opportunity in this for you? Start assessing now and always be mindful that – even though we are not all equal, Covid-19 has shown us that we are all human and susceptible to threats, even through ripple effects. Additionally, you do not own a special position, your scenario may change, the threats may not impact you directly, but its effects can affect you - you are not alone in this world so always be conscious of that and how your behaviour/response impacts others.
If there are still any doubts in your mind about all that I have said, here’s a story about some animals on a farm, facing an existential life crisis and what became of their situation.
The Story of a Mouse who lived with a Cow, Pig and Chicken in a Farm
In a small farm, there was a farmer living with his wife. There were also living a few animals: cow, pig, chicken and MOUSE.
The mouse lived quietly in a hole in the wall of the house and had good relationships with the other animals, but on a certain day he gets desperate.
The farmer’s wife placed a trap to catch the mouse.
At the time, the mouse saw the trap, ran to help his fellow animals:
– Cow, we’re in big trouble, they pitched a mousetrap in the house there.
The cow, which was chewing grass, laughed.
– We? By the way I never go into the farmer’s house? have you ever seen mousetrap to catch cow? That’s your problem.
The still desperate mouse left and meet the pig:
– Pig, there has been a hell of a mess, the farmer’s wife laid a trap at home.
– Mousetrap? Look at my size, do you think trap catches a pig like me? Turn around, that’s your problem.
The mouse gets sad and perplexed by everyone, he went to talk to the chicken:
– Chicken, we are with a very serious problem.
– I already have a bigger problem! I can not stand! I have to put a lot of eggs and you appear to me with problems? I do not care …
– But there is a mousetrap in the house, The mouse said desperately!
– But that’s not for me, that’s for you.
The mouse went away sad and disappointed because he failed to sensitize anyone to help.
At night all fell asleep and suddenly SPLAFT!!!!!!!.
The trap disarmed.
The noise caught the attention of everyone there on the farm. Everyone ran to see what happened …… ..including mouse.
There was a rattlesnake that had been caught in a trap.
The woman got up and was taking the rattlesnake trap in an unguarded and gets a bite.
Immediately, she was taken to hospital by his relatives where she was hospitalized for twenty days. With very poor health, she needed a lot of care and a special diet.
What is the best diet to regain health?
Soup!
So much for the chicken.
After a month, the health restored, and the farmer decided to offer a lunch for all of his relatives who had helped.
And there was the pig (roasted on a spit).
To complete the treatment at the hospital was not easy, the farmer had to sell the cow to a butcher.
——-END of STORY——-
You are not alone in the world!!!
Caution: the mousetrap can not catch you at first, but its effects can be devastating.
In the story, we learn that when we see the problem of others, We behave like a blind and do not see the problem of others. We forget that the problem is also ours.
The lack of community, fellowship and arrogance is the problem that affects many relationships. In a relationship, office, home, friend circle or emotional, we must always pay attention to the near by problems, and need take care of each other.
Remember: You do not own a special position, the scenario may change, the trap can not get you directly, but its effects can affect you.
View the source of this story here.
0 comments: