Staying socially connected while we maintain safe physically distancing.

What changes are the current restrictions having in your life? Is it hard to know what day of the week it is? Do you now spend more time on your devices? Maybe you are busier than before? Some people are trying to work from home and are also juggling the competing demands of bored children.  Children who are coping with the new concept and experience of online homeschooling. Perhaps you work in an industry or occupation which is still operating. The kids are home from school, and of course, they can't go to their grandparents as they usually would as their grandparents are in a vulnerable group! The situation is different for everyone. I feel truly blessed to be living in a house with my own outside space, food in the pantry and people who I care about surrounding me.

I think it is vital to take a moment and count our blessings, I am very conscious that home is not a safe space for some people, and I worry. I worry about everyone who has lost their jobs. The stress and strain about how they will cope once these restrictions are eased must be enormous. I worry about the children who are missing the opportunity to learn and experience the ups and downs of school life. In some countries, this may mean that they are also losing their main meal of the day, so I worry. I worry about all the health care workers working in busy hospitals and having to cope with the risks to their own health. I worry about the business owners facing possible financial ruin after closing their businesses down during this current crisis. I worry about our politicians and lawmakers, and I hope that they will have the good sense to know when and how to help and the courage to work together for our common good. I worry about my family, and I fear for my friends.

One of the crucial ways we are learning to stay safe is by 'social distancing' what a shame that this concept wasn't more accurately named – 'physically distancing' – socially; we are truly blessed to have so many ways of connecting. The 'new normal' that we are all still coming to grips with includes many forms of catching up with friends, family and business colleagues. Most of these technologies have been available for years, but now we are being pushed out of our comfort zones, and new words, like, Zoom, Webex and Teams, just trip off our tongue. I am interested in seeing what changes will stay and what will be rolled back once the current restrictions are eased. 

Whole new topics have sprung up on YouTube – 'getting ready for your Zoom meeting', 'looking professional in your next online meeting'. So funny, things change so fast, and it is difficult to imagine them just disappearing, so what changes are here to stay?

So I encourage you to reach out to someone you know, someone who may be alone or older.  Reach out through the phone or online, drop food at people's door, check on neighbours - stay safe but stay connected.  

Is it time to review the way we comment online.

I know this isn’t a new idea however the current noise around the many world events and local tragedies has forced me to put pen to paper – or in this modern age – fingers to keyboard!

It’s not new to comment on the way people comment on FB posts and other Social Media and online forums. But really, although the comments are sometimes warm, accepting and encouraging they are very often mean, nasty and even spiteful, so much more so than compared with the comments that people would dare to say in person?  

In Australia, this is so very different from the much-lauded ethos of a ‘fair go’.  Is this just the faceless nature of social media? If it is, then, we have a lot to answer for as we embrace all of these new mediums with little or no thought to the ways in which they are changing our social mores forever, impacting on the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours and changing the way civilised people socialise and engage in debate.  

I am sometimes truly shocked to read the comments that people are prepared to make on social media, and they make them from their accounts which are often unsecured social profiles with an alarming amount of personal details – do they realise?

I’ve recently read an opinion piece written by Amy Carr in which she describes the abuse, she received after details of her action against a barber for discrimination became known – she claims that the abuse included rape & death threats!

Is Social Media changing society mores this much – last year we commemorated the 100^th anniversary of Armistice Day perhaps we should remember the way the world changed during two World Wars - people blindly followed hateful speech and behaviour.   Profound changes to societal norms followed and the defence forces, normal civilians and even children were all caught up. What followed, as we all know, were acts of barbaric cruelty, all committed in the name of allegiance to some power or demigod who preached ideology which supported these acts.  This type of environment allows sociopathic behaviours to be normalised and changes society forever.

Never has it been so important to truly know yourself and to have a strong moral compass. Principles should be stronger than circumstance, a conviction is not something that we change to suit the current moment.  Oprah Winfrey said, "Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not."  Well put – even when no one is watching – listen to your inner voice, don’t let it be drowned out by the loud modern world that surrounds us.  We can all be better than this – when a disaster strikes the evidence is all around.

We really need strong leaders, people who are guided by good and moral thinking, not self-interest and expediency – am I just a dreamer?  Maybe so but we certainly need to question the ideas and the sentiment around us, even the language being used.

 Ideology is a notion best left with the gods in heaven not practised by mere mortals here on earth.

Doing my small bit.

The adage: "May you live in interesting times" is a quote which is usually attributed as a Chinese curse.  When you review the literature, it doesn't appear that there is any basis for that, yet it certainly exemplifies the times we are living through.

For most of us, I pray that this is a 'once in a lifetime event', quickly and quietly, our way of life changed; maybe forever.  A virus had been detected,  then they realised how quickly it could spread and how disastrous the results could be.  We realised that the danger was not just for the patient but also because of the infection rate to the whole health system, which could buckle under the weight of new cases. 

Close contact was quickly identified as a significant infection risk. The warm connections we once shared when greeting friends and colleagues became a thing of the past, new ways to greet friends and social acquaintances had to be adopted.  Very quickly, governments in democratic, liberal nations enacted legislation and policies to limit personal freedom, liberty and movement.  Closing entertainments venues and events, closing big and small businesses, churches and schools.  Right-minded people weren't objecting they embraced the changes and looked for ways to make these new social and economic realities as meaningful and productive as possible.  Businesses looked for new ways to operate and to maintain relationships with customers. 
Governments looked for ways to soften the blow for individuals, families and businesses while maintaining their continued focus on health care and health care workers.  

A Herculean task.  As an Australian, I am incredibly grateful and pleased to see the results in our country, through our joint efforts, we are lowering the infection rate and flattening the curve.  My contribution to these tasks is just to stay at home and wash my hands – sounds easy!  Although this contribution seems so trite, it isn't; this is a deliberate action.   I have acknowledged the risk, and I know that I can't contribute to the tasks required. However, I can stay at home, minimise the risk to myself and my family  and do my small part in fighting this terrible virus.

For many people the new year is associated with making (and often breaking) resolutions. Let face it, each year our list of resolutions is usually a rehash of our previous years' failed resolutions. Be more active, lose weight, spend more time reading and less time on devices, spend more time with friends and loved ones - sound familiar.

Every year I used to prepare a list of New Year's Resolutions. Then, usually fairly early in the New Year, I would be beating myself up because I hadn't managed to keep my resolution. Give up Smoking; is one that comes to mind. Topmost on my Resolution Lists for about 10 years until finally about 12 years ago I successfully gave up! But that had nothing to do with resolutions and a lot to do with recurring bronchitis!

If you made a list this year and you're still sticking to it, then congratulations. If you made a list and you can't remember what was on it, or why, then perhaps next year make a list before the champagne corks start flying. :)

This year I watched a YouTuber suggest that rather than making a list of resolutions consider creating an 'Intentions Board'. I was really intrigued by this idea, and I decided to have a look at examples on the internet and to research Vision Boards and Intention Boards. I wanted to know what they should include and how to incorporate them into my life.

I have now decided to give it a try - this might be a better way, make visual reminders about what I want to achieve in the next chapter of my life. These will not necessarily be able to be squashed between Jan and Dec but looking ahead to the future. Looking at the things that will help me age gracefully, with excellent health, strength and vitality and looking towards tasks to be completed and dreams still to be realised. 

Well its a bit late but I've decided to try my hand at this and just discount the last fortnight as research time. So my next task is to find a way of showcasing my 'intentions' in a way that will help me make real changes in my daily life and bring about real changes that I will feel and enjoy.

Each year there has been a recurring theme to most of my resolutions, like many people I'd like to think that I am making the most of my time and living the best life possible. This also means taking the best care of the physical, emotional and spiritual parts of my life, so obviously, there will be intentions on my Board about health and wellness. Still, more than that, I want my Intention Board to showcase this next chapter of my life and display the opportunities and the tasks I need to focus on to live my best life.

Firstly, I'm going to find a way of preparing a virtual visualisation board - this way I can take it with me. For some people, a real-life board on the wall of their office or bedroom might be best. Still, for me, I think I'll see if there is an App to do the job or maybe use Pinterest to create a Board that captures all of my plans and hopes for the coming year. 

I will post a picture of my Board and let you know if it helps me to keep on track with my plans this year.

Its Jan 2020 and in Australia, you can't escape the news reporting of the horrendous bushfire that are destroying hectares of bushland, home, businesses and taking the lives of so many people as well as wreaking havoc on whole eco-systems.  Such tragic news, the public are united in their grief and amazing acts of generosity are being reported every day.  Celebrities, local, national and international businesses and ordinary people are digging deep to support the victims of these tragic events.  Australian firefighters (many of whom are volunteers) are being supported, not just with financial assistance, but many firefighters have travelled to Australia from overseas.  Truly when tragedy strikes you are able to see the good in mankind.  Ordinary people doing extraordinary things, first responders moving towards danger when every sense of self-preservation tells us to flee.

There was a recent tweet on Twitter where science host Kyle Hill posted a map of the bushfires compared to the size of the USA, many Americans had no idea how large Australia was and the extent of the fires.

I'm old enough to remember many other catastrophic fire events in Australia but not the severity of these current bushfires.  Time and again after these tragic events we have public inquiries into the cause and look for solutions to future proof our drought-prone country and time and again the results of these Inquiries and Royal Commissions seem to be ignored.  Just last week a farmer in Queensland was fined about $1,000,000 for making his fire breaks too wide - it beggars belief! 

In the meantime, hopefully, the rain that is being forecast for later this week gives some relief!  

Sometimes it's the things we say that have the power to hurt or heal the people that we love and care for and sometimes it's the things we forget to say!  Words left unspoken, chances which we let pass. Isn't it amazing how words can wound our souls so much? 

I've just spent time with a beautiful friend who always takes the time to verbalise her feelings and gives my soul positive affirmations which I value so much. I'm truly blessed to have people like this in my life. 

When my children were growing up, I tried so hard to be a positive force in their lives and to give thought to the words I spoke. I remember the teachings – words hurt if you are going to make a critical comment, make sure it is about behaviour, not the person. You are not bad, stupid or lazy. This type of behaviour is acceptable, its the behaviour, not the person that is at fault. 

I tried, but of course, I often got it wrong, I just hope that I succeeded enough of the time to give them strong powerful and confident souls strong enough to cope with the world today.  I try to forgive myself for the times I failed, and I promise to work harder in the future to be like my dear friend.

I remember hearing a song a while ago that used the parallel of the footprints we leave in the sand to the impact we have on the Earth and in the lives of people after we pass.  There are lots of songs, but the one that I really found moving was the version by Beyonce. 

My actions or inactions do have consequences, in big and little ways we all affect the people around us, our communities, our friends and families and our partners. I hope that when my life is finished, the people who celebrate it at my funeral will agree. 

 That I gave my all, did my best, brought someone some happiness and that I left this world a little better just because I was here.