I live in the city of Melbourne, Australia and we have been in different stages of lock-down for over six months, the last two in the severity of lock-down stage 4. I also live alone and until two weeks ago that meant I could not have any visitors, now I have a social buddy who can visit but I cannot visit her unless she is alone in her house, which doesn’t occur that often.
This is not what I want to write about, it is the effect of the online tools such as Zoom and Google Meet on creating worldwide communities. In the past week I have attended a moon ceremony lead by two women who resided in two different states in the U.S.A.. A world wide personal transformation seminar broadcast worldwide lead by a man who lived in Los Angeles, two dance ceremonies coming out of Holland and New York, a visioning quest broadcast and English tutoring from Melbourne and a webinar from London, England.
I would not have attended quite a few of these if not for the pandemic extending the availability of these events online. So what has the world said about the greatest greatest emergency in 100 years. Lets have a look:
1. Remember, it doesn’t last for ever.
2. How did these instructions plus wear a mask become so confronting to some people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEbq342BzZA
3. Who knew that school would become “out” for such a lengthy period of time.
4. When you only have yourself to talk to, writing quotes can help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXxtGz0JKTQ
5. A cheer squad of quotes.
6. My sister coming around to walk her dog once a week is a great help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyTpu6BmE88
7. Not an easy task.
8. And as we call them in Australia, the wearing of trackydacks ( track-pants): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8
9. I have a weekly chat with my siblings via SMS and phone call now.
10. The two most popular Birthday GIF s contain toilet rolls and masks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqYxyd1iSNk
11. And then I saw this one.
12. The last great virus, the Spanish Flu had four pandemics before it was over. Crossed fingers that it will not happen this time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY1eFxgRR-k
13. The hard drive of a computer does not replace the heart of teachers like my sister.
14. 29% of consumers say they shop more online than in-person: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0kcet4aPpQ
15. Remember the seasons.
Luckily we have tools like Zoom, Google Meet, SMS and Messenger to keep in contact. But there are things we can do to keep our lifes in order, here are 12 of them.
- Let go of the past.
- Identify the lesson.
- Lose the negative attitude.
- Accept accountability for your current situation.
- Focus on the things you can change.
- Figure on what you really want.
- Eliminate the nonessential.
- Be specific.
- Concentrate of doing instead of not doing.
- Create a daily routine.
- Maintain self-control and work on it for real.
- Forget about impressing people.
Today’s playlist begins with Fifth Harmony followed by Bob’s son Ziggy Marley. Dionne Warwick and a group of friends have a jam next, then three pop diva’s: Miley Cyrus, Kate Perry and Selena Gomez. We finish with Pink Floyd: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJlQ3F9bKYrtjzrEfSe9TzS7WRFDxzIpe
What the world needs is a new ethos to survive this pandemic. I suggest Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included. Until we meet again, my dear friends.
I am an Interculturalist 