People Supporting Each Other

We are living in a very challenging time, not just here in South Africa, but across the entire globe. People are experiencing illness the intensity of which we haven’t experienced in a long time. With the first reports coming through of Covid-19, it felt very much to me, like we were all scrambling around trying to become properly informed. There also seemed to be quite a lot of disinformation spreading, such as we have nothing to panic about, it’s just the flu, the flu kills people every year.

Now that we as the human race, have all woken up to the severity of this awful virus, I get the sense that much collaboration is taking place and people’s hearts are moving to the right place. And by that I mean, people are respecting each other, practicing social distancing and actually showing how much they care for each other through supporting each other through their actions and deeds, rather than paying lip service as we are always so ready to do.

I particularly love the videos circulating social media, where the people of Italy are coming out onto their balconies and singing together. I’ve always said that music is an universal language, it has the power to unite us in a way that no other language can. And for me, these beautiful people, confined to their homes, coming together to bring light into each other’s lives through an uplifting song, it just so touching to bear witness to.

It feels to me like all countries are working with the World Health Organisation to find a solution to controlling this virus and to create a vaccine that the whole world will benefit from. It doesn’t feel to me like a scramble to see who is first to the finish line and for me, this shows without doubt, how people have put ego aside for the betterment of each other.

For those of us, the lay person, who don’t know the first thing about viruses and the like, we need to trust that our leaders will make the best possible decisions on our behalf. Placing restrictions on the movement of people across borders, in my opinion, is the best decision at this time. Cancelling all travel plans is the responsible decision for us to make, at this time. Limiting our contact with the outside world, even as close to home as our neighbours, family and friends, is the responsible decision at this time.

Please know that I am in no way an expert in anything that is happening currently around the world. The content of this article is purely my opinion and is written completely from my perspective. I do believe that the world has the combined expertise to bring about a solution that will benefit us all. I also pray that one of the lessons coming out of this combined experience, will be to practice love and respect for our fellow human beings. Not forgetting that this virus originated from the despicable slaughter of wild animals for human consumption, I can only pray that this practice will be completely banned and that the perpetrators of these atrocities will be brought to book.